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.
害羞草研究所淲e need to make sure that our schools are safe for everyone,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here is a small minority of people that believe that school librarians and teachers are the major threats to our children,害羞草研究所� he added.
The legislation allows cabinet to establish what some call 害羞草研究所榖ubble-zones害羞草研究所� of 20 metres within schools, where individuals cannot 害羞草研究所渋ntimidate or attempt to intimidate害羞草研究所� persons or 害羞草研究所渙therwise do or say anything害羞草研究所� that could 害羞草研究所渞easonably be expected to cause concern害羞草研究所� for the 害羞草研究所減hysical or mental safety害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淣ew legislation will be tabled to protect schools and kids from disruptive protests,害羞草研究所� 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). 害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� Sharma said.
She added that the legislation is not about restricting free speech. 害羞草研究所淓veryone has the right to peaceful protests,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ut just because you have the right to protests doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean you have the right to intimidate or harass.害羞草研究所�
The legislation does not automatically establish these limits, but gives cabinet the power to do so when necessary.
害羞草研究所淭he way we approached the construction of the legislation was to make sure we were nimble enough to respond害羞草研究所ut also be able to adjust over time,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所減arents who are concerned about their children in schools害羞草研究所� when asked about the legislation.
害羞草研究所淭here is no hate in that (questioning SOGI-123),害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he issue is around parental rights and parents being involved with their children害羞草研究所檚 education, issues around information that害羞草研究所檚 being provided within schools, which seems to be in appropriate in my opinion.害羞草研究所�
He added that he would replace SOGI-123 with anti-bullying initiatives.
