Abusive Members of the Public: What are Your Rights and Responsibilities?

Dealing with difficult or even abusive members of the public has long been seen as “just part of the job” for those working in local government. But what happens when that behaviour crosses the line? This paper explores what obligations a local government has to protect its employees when interactions become harmful – and what authority it has to respond. We will look at the range of tools available to local governments to manage abusive conduct, including expulsion and suspension from council meetings and remedies arising from the Trespass Act. Finally, we will turn to the law of defamation in B.C., examining when a claim against an abusive individual might be appropriate, the risks it entails, and what the process looks like in practice.

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