A resident of Rocky Mountain House is calling on town council to consider banning the use of hate symbols in the community.

Liam Bolton shared his concerns and request with council last week during their regular meeting on March 22.

“I urge town council to implement a bylaw that bans hate symbols and slogans of bigotry. That would include things like confederate flags, swastikas, iron crosses and many more”, said Bolton.

Councillor Merrin Fraser noted, both Edmonton and Strathcona have addressed this and have banned the public display of hate symbols in their respective communities.

Town officials say that Bill C-313 received first reading by the House of Commons in June 2021 to make this a federal law. Bill C-313 is, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code by banning all symbols of hate.

Members of council are facing a tough decision with making this a bylaw because the federal government will be reviewing it in the future which would add it to the criminal code.

“If we’re going to wait for the federal government to come up with the policy and laws to handle this, we could be waiting a long time,” said Councillor Shane Boniface. “We’re all aware that we’ve had many people contact us in the last six months about the things they have saw around town.”

Deputy Mayor Len Phillips voiced his concern by saying, “If the town spends the time and energy on a bylaw that is going to be overruled by the federal government, is it the best use of our resources?”

At the end of the discussions, council decided to gather more information from the federal government to see where they’re at with Bill C-313, and to discuss the issue at a future council meeting.