More religious groups in the City of Moncton may soon be permitted to display symbols on designated municipal property.
A policy was approved in principle at this week’s Moncton City Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
This comes following a decision in late 2023 not to display religious symbols at City Hall.
“This policy is meant to guide how religious groups are to request the display of their religious symbols. The intent of the policy is to provide a clear framework that will reflect the city’s diversity and promote inclusion in the city. The goal is not to modify any current displays but to provide a processing guideline to permit the addition of new displays of municipal property,” Inclusion Advisor Angelique Reddy told council members.
A third-party study was launched that included further discussions involving several religious organizations, including Christian, Catholic, Pentecostal, Anglican, United, Wesleyan/ Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu.
It also looked at the best locations on municipal property for religious symbols to be displayed. The favoured spot was Gérald Leblanc Park in front of Moncton City Hall, which offered the most exposure.
Certain criteria must be met for a religious symbol to be displayed. Groups must apply online through the City of Moncton website.
Religious organizations may not display more than one religious symbol per year, and displays must be respectful of their faiths.
The displays will only be permitted for no longer than 45 days, and must be in the location designated by City Council policy.
City administration must approve the display to ensure it meets the guidelines for size and safety, and more than one group may display their symbol simultaneously.
The group will also be responsible for all costs associated with creating the display, setting it up, taking it down, storing it and if there is any damage.
The City also adds that if an application is rejected, the applicant will be provided a reason for the decline.
Moncton City Council members voted in favour of the policy, but it still must be officially approved at the next City Council meeting later this month.
Daniel Bourgeois was absent for the vote.
