Succumbing to a growing tide of criticism, Vancouver has made a dramatic shift to alleviate concerns that free speech and political expression might be limited during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

On the scrap heap is a city bylaw passed just last July that drew heavy fire from activists and civil libertarians for seeming to give police broad powers to seize anti-Olympic protest signs and banners.

In its place is a proposed new law making it clear that restrictions imposed during the Games apply only to commercial signage.

"Our commitment has always been the protection of people's Charter Rights and Freedoms," Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a statement yesterday, after the revised regulations were made public.

"The new bylaw brings forward clear wording that ensures we target inappropriate commercial activities, not political expression."

Although civic officials and councillors who approved the earlier bylaw insisted there was no intent to curtail civil liberties, wording was far from precise.

Critics feared the worst, suggesting police could enter people's homes to remove unauthorized signs, and that someone brandishing a "free Tibet" message in the vicinity of a Games venue risked arrest.

At one point, B.C. Civil Liberties Association president Robert Holmes said the city was approaching "Beijing 2.0" in its approach to freedom of speech.

The BCCLA also threw its weight behind a court challenge to the city's July bylaw by anti-Olympic activists Chris Shaw and Alissa Westergard-Thorpe.

In light of the bylaw changes, however, BCCLA executive director David Eby said the association would now review the case with the two plaintiffs to see whether it needs to proceed. "While we still have some concerns, we are broadly pleased with the amendments. Absolutely."

Ellen Woodsworth, one of only two council members to vote against the controversial bylaw in July, also welcomed the shift. "I am glad to see we have these changes, although they only came about because of public outcry. All the questions we had have been validated."

The altered bylaw gives city officials the right to move quickly to remove illegal commercial signs while the Games are on next February. Normally, it takes months to have unauthorized billboards or signage taken down. Under the new rules, enforcement officers will have heightened Olympian powers to get rid of illegal, commercial advertising within a day or two. But there will be no interference with political dissent, officials pledged.

"Staff have tried to reflect long-standing concerns in the community over rights to expression and free speech during the Olympics," said Councillor Geoff Meggs, who previously charged that worries over the July bylaw were overblown. "I never had any qualms this council would tolerate any violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

Mr. Meggs said some of the dire scenarios painted by activists were "frankly, extraordinary and fantastic. We had no plans to kick down doors and tear off fridge magnets, or drill out locks and take people's T-shirts. I didn't think we were guilty as charged."

The proposed new bylaw will be presented to council on Dec. 3.