Guelph’s controversial nuisance bylaw continues to make waves.  This week council voted unanimously to send staff back to the drawing board to reconfigure the most contentious part. 

As it stands, the nuisance bylaw would allow protesters to gather but not erect tents, structures and congregating on the sidewalk is questionable.

It was Monday when the wide ranging and vague bylaw went before council; they did approve in principal the part of the bylaw that deals with nuisance parties in and around the downtown and the university areas.

But it did not approve the part of the bylaw that regulates all city land and allows staff to prohibit anything that is deemed to be annoying.  Like putting up a tent, a sign or selling goods on city property.

Who determines what activity is annoying is left up to city staff.  And that’s something that doesn’t sit well with most residents like Jakki Prince.

“The more specific you can be the better sometimes that means a lot of paperwork and a lot of rework but might save a lot of after problems.” Prince says.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association based in Toronto says the bylaw is too broad and too vague, and it doesn’t fully protect the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

For that reason, Councillor Maggie Laidlaw says more thought and consultation is needed if it’s deemed this legislation is even necessary.

The part of the bylaw that deals with nuisance parties will return to council in about a months’ time.  As for the part of the legislation that deals with occupy events like protests, it will be months before that is decided.