B.C. looks to ban protests near schools
Posted April 10, 2024 2:29 pm.
Last Updated April 10, 2024 2:44 pm.
The B.C. government is looking to “preserve safe access” to schools, by introducing legislation that would prevent protests within a certain distance of K-12 facilities.
Attorney General Niki Sharma introduced the Safe Access to Schools Act for a first reading in the legislature Wednesday.
“The purpose of this bill is to preserve safe access to education by protecting students and staff from harmful and disruptive behaviours at or around K to 12 schools,” she said in the house.
“This proposed legislation would give the lieutenant governor and council the power to establish access zones around K-12 schools by regulation.”
Listen to CityNews 1130 LIVE now!In these access zones, Sharma explains, “certain forms of harmful and disruptive behaviour will be prohibited.”
“These prohibitions are designed to protect students and staff from the negative impacts of protests that have unfortunately become an increasing problem at our K-12 schools,” Sharma continued.
According to the province, the legislation would give police the authority to arrest people and issue tickets to whoever is “found impeding access, disrupting educational activities or attempting to intimidate an individual within 20 metres (66 feet) of school grounds.”
Before action is taken to establish an access zone, Sharma says the bill will require the lieutenant governor and council to take into consideration “several factors.”
Those considerations include “the importance of the education, safety, and wellbeing of the students attending the school, the importance of the health, safety, and wellbeing of the persons providing educational programs and extra curricular activities at the school, and the need to protect access to schools.”
The attorney general says the bill also includes “limited exemptions” for people who go to and work at the schools, as well as provisions that clarify allowance of labour action, like strikes.
“This proposed legislation contains a sunset clause and will be repealed on July 1, 2026, or earlier by regulation,” Sharma added.
The proposed bill comes after large protests outside educational facilities and school boards in B.C. in recent years. Demonstrations have included those for and against SOGI 123.
Last year, the province announced it was considering implementing protest-exclusion zones around schools in B.C., in response to demonstrations against educational sexual orientation and gender identity resources.
Education Minister Rachna Singh said in October 2023 that the government was “exploring options” around possible legislation.
“Schools are no place for protests. I feel for those parents. We really want to make sure that our schools are safe and inclusive,” she explained at the time.
“The safety of our kids, our school staff, everybody, is paramount for us. We will look at every option to make sure schools are safe and inclusive.”
There is precedent for protest exclusion zones in B.C. In 2021, legislation was passed to protect areas outside hospitals and medical facilities following a protest that blocked access to Vancouver General Hospital.
