The City of Calgary has agreed to take a hands-off approach to a planned Riley Park protest today, averting a court fight between civil libertarians and municipal lawyers.
Lawyer Shirish Chotalia yesterday agreed to have an application for an order suspending Calgary's by-law preventing the protest dismissed because of the city's co-operation.
"We wanted the judge to give us some direction, some protection for the peaceful assembly of Calgarians, Canadians," she said of the proposed legal challenge.
But after meeting with city officials outside court, Chotalia told Justice Terrence McMahon she would not be proceeding.
"My clients feel that there is extensive co-operation at this time coming from the city," said Chotalia, who acts for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Alberta Federation of Labour. "Our understanding is the city will not interfere with the (Riley Park) gathering."
City G-8 project manager John Chaput said as long as things don't get out of hand the protesters will be allowed to have what's being dubbed a family picnic.
"We'll leave it to the police to determine whether there's an enforcement issue, but we certainly don't anticipate doing anything to prevent it," said Chaput.
Chotalia said her clients still intend to pursue a constitutional challenge of the bylaw, which likely won't be heard until the fall.
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