HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge has dismissed a claim by a man who says the province infringed on his freedom of expression when it revoked a licence plate personalized with his surname — Grabher. The Nova Scotia plate Lorne Grabher had for nearly 30 years was revoked in 2016 by the province’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles after the agency received a complaint from a woman who said it promoted hatred toward women. In a 50-page decision released Friday, Justice Darlene Jamieson said there is no constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression in a government-owned, personalized licence plate. “The primary function of a licence plate is not expression but is identification and regulation of vehicle ownership,” Jamieson wrote. Cameron also noted that Jamieson “basically ignored” the fact that Grabher had been issued the plate for nearly 30 years without objections being raised.

Source: National Post February 01, 2020 03:00 UTC