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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, A pr il 5, 20 18 | 6 The Georgetown Independent & Free Press, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corpora- tion. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 ABOUT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 905-234-1016 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadiancham- pion.com or call 905-234-1019. CONTACT US VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague General Manager Steve Foreman Retail Advertising Manager Cindi Campbell Regional Managing Editor Chris Vernon Regional Managing Digital Editor Robyn Wilkinson Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Classified/Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison WHO WE ARE OPINION There is no place in society for hate speech or hate groups. The increase in hate crimes in the GTHA and across North America, and their message of violence bigotry and racism is more than just alarming. In an attempt to tamp down Hamilton's own rising concern about hate groups and the vitriol they sprout, many have urged city council to ban such groups from using city-owned facilities, including public parks. Part of the reasoning behind the push is that last year the right wing group Canadian Combat Coali- tion received a permit to rally at city hall's forecourt against the federal anti-Islamophobia Motion 103. Far-right groups, especially in Europe and in the United States, have held rallies, displayed signs and held talks, all using the cover of free speech to spread their message of hate against diverse groups, im- migrants and the gay communities. European coun- tries, most notably Germany, have banned many far- right and neo-Nazi groups, their signs, words and phrases with questionable success. In the United States, where free expression is em- bedded in its constitution, hate speech is an allow- able form of expression that has produced disastrous results such as in Charlottesville, Va. In Canada there has been an acceptable compro- mise with our hate speech laws when it comes to limiting freedom of expression. Canada's Charter of Rights of Freedoms protects free expression along with multiculturalism and equality, meaning a fine balance needs to be struck between seemingly con- flicting rights and freedoms within the charter. Is it right to ban groups many in society deem abhorrent? Bans matter because they establish the mainstream moral boundaries of the day. They send a message to the community that certain actions are considered outside acceptable limits, while express- ing solitary for members of vulnerable groups. But bans are problematic. Who decides what is a hate group? Should a group that criticizes Israel be banned from city property, for instance? Where does dissent end and discrimination begin? Bans also do not combat extremism, nor are they an effective way to counter extremist ideologues. Bans also usually backfire, fuelling youth alienation pushing them toward extremism and shoving it un- derground, as what has occurred in Germany and other European countries. However, that doesn't mean councils should open the doors and welcome hate groups into parks and public buildings. Just know that bans won't solve the underlying issues that drive people to these sorts of destructive ideologies. Should hate groups be banned? Strep article missed the mark In response to your arti- cle published on March 23 entitled Lucky to be alive: Georgetown mother, 34, has hysterectomy after contracting group A strep. Halton Healthcare would like to address sev- eral incorrect inferences and reports within your article as follows: • The headline - the word "contracting" is used - which by definition means "catch or develop a disease or infectious agent," implies that the patient acquired the infec- tion in the Georgetown hospital. This is incorrect. • The reporter has mis- quoted our response in one instance in the arti- cle; the item relating to whether we have had any cases of group B strep and resultant infant fatalities. Our response was "We have had no cases of group B strep in infants or chil- dren at Georgetown Hos- pital in the past five months". In the article, it is reported as "Halton Health (sic) says that they have not received any re- ports of group B strep." • The reporter draws a false inference of a poten- tial connection between group A and group B strep, which are two com- pletely distinct infectious agents. Readers are misled by linking the patient who had the group A strep in- fection with a mother who lost her baby in the con- text of a group B strep in- fection. It is important for read- ers to understand that group B strep is not trans- mitted person to person, while group A strep some- times is. Of note is that Halton Healthcare does not have an active concern regard- ing group A streptococcus transmission. Cindy McDonell, COO, Georgetown Hospi- tal, Halton Healthcare, Dr. Neil Rau, Medical Director, Infec- tion, Prevention & Con- trol, Halton Healthcare Make an informed election choice In spite of the Ontario Liberals' complete and ut- ter failure for the past 15 years, there is a mind numbing 19 per cent of On- tarians who would still vote for Kathleen Wynne this next election. The time has come for the ignorant and unin- formed to quit blindly marking their "X" in the Liberal box every election just because they always have, and their parents al- ways have, and so on. It's time to start acting like re- sponsible adults. Our children's futures depend on you. Alain Fournier • EDITORIAL • • LETTERS & COMMENTARY • Letters See what our readers are saying about the issues that matter to them theifp.ca/letters