The following was sent to the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market Society (SSISMS) board, in response to its decision to not restrict signage posted by vendors at their market booths.
By TOBY FOUKS
To the members of the board: I have received notification about registering for the 2025 Saturday Market, and read the information it contains.
From your email:
“The market will follow the Canadian Charter of Human Rights, which states that ‘everyone has the fundamental freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media communication.’ Salt Spring Island has been known and admired for its breadth of opinions as well as its inclusivity, tolerance, friendship and diversity of all. In a bid to honour the diversity of islanders, SSISMS will not be restricting vendor signage.”
To say that I am disappointed would be a huge understatement. I think you have confused some issues. This is not about human rights and the right of free expression, etc. No one is restricting that right. All vendors have the right in their personal lives and personal communication and personal residences. That is not being restricted.
And this is not about the island being theoretically a very tolerant place open to diversity. That’s nonsense. This is not about the island — it is about the kind of Saturday Market experience we are trying to provide for visitors. If someone wants to proclaim their opinions, let them find a place to do it other than the market.
Your decision gives vendors the right to politicize a public marketplace that we all pay to be a part of. This gives vendors the right to post signage that has absolutely nothing to do with what they are selling, that might please some, might upset some, might encourage some, might offend some, might keep some away. It will do absolutely no good for anyone or an issue.
It is a totally inappropriate place for political signage, but you have given people permission to post signs that express their opinions as long as (I assume) they are not advocating anything illegal. And even then, since it’s their personal opinion, perhaps that will be acceptable. On what grounds now would that be prohibited since it meets your criteria of “personal opinions?”
Currently there is plenty of tension associated with the horrors that have taken place in Gaza. We saw the start of posting opinions about that last summer. This is just one issue. There are many others, although it’s the one foremost in my mind.
The only sign that I can see worthy of your acceptance is “Buy local, support Canada.”
It’s too bad that after coming to this decision you didn’t think beyond individual rights to the rights of a whole group.
I have a very strong opinion on this issue, and as you are supportive of my right to express that, I intend to do so publicly.