Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre have sent a warning letter to Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and Hamilton Police after they attempted to prevent a political conference organized by the Dominion Society of Canada from taking place in Hamilton.

Mayor Horwath urged local businesses not to host the conference. Hamilton Police then asked the public to report possible venues to police, despite identifying no crime.

Constitutional lawyer Hatim Kheir said, “The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Police are using both direct action and their influence to exclude a viewpoint they disagree with from the entire city. This is unconstitutional and fundamentally at odds with the way a free and democratic society operates.”

The legal warning letter calls on Hamilton officials to cease and retract their actions and respect Charter freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.