New legislation promises to prohibit protests around schools.
Premier David Eby said Wednesday (April 10) that the legislation builds on legislation that protected health care workers from protesters against COVID-19 measures.
91裸聊视频淲e need to make sure that our schools are safe for everyone,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭here is a small minority of people that believe that school librarians and teachers are the major threats to our children,91裸聊视频� he added.
The legislation allows cabinet to establish what some call 91裸聊视频榖ubble-zones91裸聊视频� of 20 metres within schools, where individuals cannot 91裸聊视频渋ntimidate or attempt to intimidate91裸聊视频� persons or 91裸聊视频渙therwise do or say anything91裸聊视频� that could 91裸聊视频渞easonably be expected to cause concern91裸聊视频� for the 91裸聊视频減hysical or mental safety91裸聊视频� of persons. Individuals can also not physically block access from and to schools or disrupt school lessons or extracurricular activities.
Violators can be arrested.
The legislation includes limited exceptions for students and school staff and does not prohibit picketing.
Government had signalled the legislation during the Throne Speech in February. 91裸聊视频淣ew legislation will be tabled to protect schools and kids from disruptive protests,91裸聊视频� it reads.
It comes after a series of protests around schools against Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 123 programming with Eby citing close to 20 such incidents during his remarks.
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Attorney-General Niki Sharma tabled the legislation Wednesday (April 10). 91裸聊视频淭hese 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,91裸聊视频� Sharma said.
She added that the legislation is not about restricting free speech. 91裸聊视频淓veryone has the right to peaceful protests,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut just because you have the right to protests doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean you have the right to intimidate or harass.91裸聊视频�
The legislation does not automatically establish these limits, but gives cabinet the power to do so when necessary.
91裸聊视频淭he way we approached the construction of the legislation was to make sure we were nimble enough to respond91裸聊视频ut also be able to adjust over time,91裸聊视频� she said. She added that the legislation is trying to strike a balance between protecting constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech with preventing harassment.
The legislation is set to expire no later than July 1, 2026.
Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad accused the B.C. NDP of a double-standard in allowing protests critical of Israel to go forward while focusing on 91裸聊视频減arents who are concerned about their children in schools91裸聊视频� when asked about the legislation.
91裸聊视频淭here is no hate in that (questioning SOGI-123),91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he issue is around parental rights and parents being involved with their children91裸聊视频檚 education, issues around information that91裸聊视频檚 being provided within schools, which seems to be in appropriate in my opinion.91裸聊视频�
He added that he would replace SOGI-123 with anti-bullying initiatives.
