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Xmas cutbacks? No way!

Criticism has been swift to a Victoria city council motion to review civic Christmas decorations with an eye to making them secular

The city spends about $64,000 a year on the decorations, and Coun. Ben Isitt says they may be too religious.

"It's really just asking staff to report back on what are our options for secularization or increasing the cultural diversity," Coun. Laurel Collins told CTV News.

That could mean removing some decorations or using more generic items like snowflakes instead of overtly Christian designs.

However, reaction on social media has been strongly opposed to any change.

"Being inclusive doesn't mean that then we have to take some things away," said Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe. "I think that there are many people such as myself who may not practice Christianity, who celebrate Christmas every year."

She'd like to see how the city could add, rather than subtract.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island

 



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