The provincial government has announced it is introducing legislation to prohibit people from interfering with safe access to school grounds and places of worship.
B.C. Premier David Eby said at a press conference on Monday afternoon that students, educators and people attending faith services will be able to do so with the knowledge that the spaces remain safe and respectful.
“When we think about the values we have as British Columbians, as Canadians, there are some very fundamental values, and they involve the ability to be who you are, to worship as you wish to worship, for people to be able to move freely around the community and do what they need to do,” Eby said.
“There are two specific groups that we’ve been concerned about, in terms of protest activities and other activities, harassing activities targeted at these groups recently. It is a disturbing trend. It is not unique to British Columbia, but it is one that British Columbia is uniquely taking on.”
Eby said that the first group is kids going to school. He said staff and children need to be able to get to school without harassment and without intimidation.
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The other group is people attending faith-based services.
“Unfortunately, we have seen disturbing incidents that have raised concerns here in British Columbia and across the country,” Eby said. “Just this weekend in Ontario, there were shots fired at synagogues, profoundly threatening, violent, an act aimed expressly at intimidating the Jewish community in Ontario. We have seen similar disturbing events here in British Columbia targeting not just the Jewish community, but a number of different religious communities in the province.”
In May 2024, B.C. passed the Safe Schools Act, which sets 20-metre (66-foot) “no-go zones” for protesters around schools.
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Under the law, police can arrest or ticket anyone found blocking access, disrupting or interfering with school activities or trying to intimidate people within the access zone.
The zones are in effect from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and during extracurricular school activities at all public and private schools in the province.
That legislation came in the wake of an increase in protests against SOGI 123, a resource package about sexual orientation and gender identity aimed at reducing bullying and discrimination. The province also saw disruptive vaccine-related protests near schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eby said on Monday that this legislation will now extend to churches, gurdwaras, synagogues, mosques and temples to establish a perimeter around the outside where intimidating activity will not be allowed to take place.
“Now, the law will require that there be clear signage so that people know this is a place of worship,” Eby said.
“These are the expectations. This is the perimeter where these activities are not allowed so that everybody understands what is expected.”
Eby said it is disappointing to have to post signs like this, but with this legislation, the police will be able to intervene if harassment happens, whether by removing someone from the area or by writing them a ticket.
The Safe Schools Act legislation will also be extended to 2028.
“Here in British Columbia, freedom of speech, the right to protest, remains an important right and it’s protected, and peaceful protests will always be protected in our province,” Eby said.
“But harassment and intimidation of students, teachers, people attending places of faith, across the line — rights come with responsibilities and balancing different rights across our democracy. This is grounded in our values of respect, of inclusion and belonging.”
Trump is a ped0phile
Doug ahhhh ok that totally makes sense. What a bunch of pathetic l0sers
Well that’s because most white people are ignorant and racist and can’t accept the fact that they’re the ones responsible for the downfall of our society
Doug then why do white people say that brown people are the problem with our society?
That’s because white people are the problem with our society… not anyone else
You’re right Doug. Everytime I see a fent zombie they’re white… Weird
Why is it that there’s more white people living in the DTES than anyone else?
Why is it that white people are always the ones m0lesting children? Just like me and my hero Trump
The Church of Jesus Christ is where I was m0lested by a priest for the first time
Funny I don’t think he believes in a God. Just trying to deflect from his budget fiasco.
And after introdocing this legislation Eby plans to give all those places over to chugs and then allow open drug use on their doorsteps.
ABOUT BLOODY TIME ALSO WHEN IS EBY LEAVING ?????
That was funny
Remember when those inbred white people in Alberta did that freedumb rally across Canada
Eby talking about fixing anything and everything except the economy and cost of living in BC. Eby and their NDP government are a complete waste of time.
All Christian men are child m0lesters. Just like meeeee
Protesting is fine, but of recent times the protesters have become violent! I am looking at you ANTIFA, Pro Palestine, useful NDP ID10Ts.
Does this mean that UBC will not let anymore groups on the property if they’re not registered students? Political protests should be outlawed on ALL educational properties
SOGI DRIPA etc etc. Blah Blah.
If schools just taught the kids how to think and not what to think you wouldn’t need more rules and laws.
Example: BC Gr 10 English focus’s solely on pro First Nations and T&R literature and materials for the whole year. It is essentially an anti colonial pro FN history class not an English class. I was reading world class and renowned authors in Gr 10 and writing detailed book reviews. MY kids were reading poorly written propaganda books by no name FNs and having to correctly answer multiple choice questions where the right answers were ones that dumped on the settlers. Good thing mist kids realised what was going and started asking question like what about my future please?
“Just this weekend in Ontario, there were shots fired at synagogues,…”
You don’t need special laws. There are already laws against someone firing a gun at a building, any building. Why don’t you work harder to enforce the existing laws, and keep these losers in jail longer.