The Supreme Court of Canada won't review an Ontario anti-squeegee law meant to prevent aggressive panhandling.
In a decision released Thursday without comment, the SCC denied leave to appeal to 11 homeless men convicted for offering to wash car windshields for money under the Safe Streets Act.
Lawyers for the men had claimed that the legislation violated their clients' rights to freedom of expression, fundamental justice and equal treatment before the law.
In previous rulings, a trial judge and the provincial appeal court agreed that the law did infringe on individual liberties.
However, both rulings said the infringement was justified because it was in the interests of public safety.
The SCC's decision now means that the legislation, brought in by Mike Harris' former Conservative government, will stand.
At the time, the legislation was sponsored by Jim Flaherty, then Harris' attorney general. Flaherty now serves as finance minister in the federal Conservative government.
With files from The Canadian Press
