ASHLEY BRITZ

If you want to complain about your awful professor, rant about your annoying ex-lover or share a juicy rumor about one of your classmates, make sure you’re in a private place before you do — Saskatoon may soon make your words illegal to be spoken in public.

The City of Saskatoon is proposing a new anti-bullying bylaw that would take effect in all public places, including campus, on the streets, in any public building and even in bars.

This bylaw — which at the time of print was in review — would illegalize name-calling, rumour-mongering, taunting and gossiping, among other offences. The cost? A $300 fine for the first offence and up to $2,500 for any additional offences.

Now, while I think it’s safe to say that it is not nice to spread rumours, call people names or shun others, I am left to wonder if these acts really should be crossing the line into criminal territory.

Is being an asshole enough to warrant a legal charge? While I believe the city councillors who proposed this bylaw have their hearts in the right place, I can’t help but see it as a form of censorship and a blockage to free speech.

I think we have to be honest with ourselves — can you even count the number of times you’ve gone into a bar and heard people shit-talking each other, calling each other names and so forth? It’s not like such a thing is a rare and shocking occurrence. Should it really be illegal?

While bullying is a rampant problem in the school system and should be dutifully recognized and dealt with — although children under 12 would be exempt from this bylaw — adults shouldn’t feel the need to go running to authority the moment we hear something we don’t like.

This bylaw could easily be manipulated and twisted into a “he-said, she-said” type of situation in court, which would likely create a lot of headaches for both law enforcement and the citizens of Saskatoon.

It could also easily be taken advantage of — if somebody wants to make another person’s life a living hell, can’t they just turn to the police and claim that that person spread a rumor about them or called them a name?

I’m not entirely sure if it’s a good thing to send people running to the police if they get their feelings hurt by another individual. Furthermore, why would this only apply in public places? Is this an effort for Saskatoon to attempt to make a more “classy” public environment?

It is also important to consider how this law would affect students at the University of Saskatchewan. If put into effect, this law would make gossiping in the library potentially illegal — which we all know is not uncommon. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard people rumour-spreading and shit-talking with their friends in the Murray Library.

Even bitching about a professor to your classmates or having an argument with your significant other in the Bowl could potentially hold dire consequences if the wrong person were to overhear. Seeing as how almost anywhere on campus could be considered a public place, you’d definitely have to be careful with your words while on the premises.

However, it is worth noting that there could also be positive aspects to this law. If put into place, this law could curb issues like catcalling or the potential for street harassment — familiar problems to some in Saskatoon.

However, the question still remains as to exactly how the police are going to enforce this bylaw, and how lenient or strict law enforcers are going to be on potential offenders.

In any case, it seems to be a bylaw that borders on trying to police the words and thoughts of the citizens of Saskatoon — and for me, that’s a big no-no. Perhaps the city should take a step back and really consider if they want to use their police efforts on words, rather than actual crime.

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Photo: Caitlin Taylor / Photo Editor