Aggressive behaviour by charity street canvassers will not be tolerated in Victoria under a new code of conduct adopted by Victoria councillors.

The code, patterned after one in Seattle, also requires “street collectors” to wear name tags bearing their given name and the name of the charity they are representing and to carry ID.

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Agreement on the code of conduct was reached after Mayor Dean Fortin met with representatives of five organizations who received street collection permits in 2012 and 2013. The organizations were eager to comply, Fortin said.

“I think the most interesting provisions are the identification,” Fortin said. If a canvasser isn’t following the rules, the name can be noted and a complaint filed, he said.

Organizations issued permits over the past two years include Public Outreach Consultancy Inc., representing Plan Canada, Amnesty International, WSPA, Unicef Canada and Doctors Without Borders; Victoria Remembrance Day Committee Poppy Fund; Rotary Club of Victoria and the ALS Society.

Fortin said establishing a code was preferable to coming down right off the bat with a heavy legislative hand.

“It really was more about the community respectfully coming together and agreeing on how they could work better and that’s not a bad approach to try first,” he said.

Under the code, canvassers cannot block a pedestrian’s path, walk alongside pedestrians in an attempt to engage them, or move more than one step toward pedestrians.

Canvassing is not allowed in city parks; the area around Beacon Hill Park; the Inner Harbour and the lower causeway; and Government Street between Fisgard and Belleville streets.

The issue was raised last year by Coun. Shellie Gudgeon, who said the street canvassers made her uncomfortable and detracted from downtown’s ambiance. She had pushed for a review of the bylaw.

Gudgeon worried Thursday that the city might be opening the door to businesses selling coupons on corners with the promise of donating a portion to charity.

City manager of legislative services Don Schaffer said that wouldn’t be permitted under the bylaw.

bcleverley@timescolonist.com

The canvassers code

• Canvassers will not stop the flow of traffic or block a pedestrian.

• Canvassers will not walk backward or alongside a pedestrian in an attempt to engage them.

• Canvassers will not aggressively solicit members of the public.

• Canvassers will not intrude on pedestrians by shaking their hands in an attempt to engage them.

• Canvassers will remain stationary. They can move no more than one step toward a pedestrian.

• Should a pedestrian choose not to stop, they are to be politely thanked and allowed to move on.

• No distribution of products or merchandise (brochures or T-shirts) on city property.