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