Other cities in Ontario have enacted similar by-laws. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X.
Hamilton City Council is considering a new bylaw to prohibit protests near places of worship after a motion at the 11-member municipal Planning Committee was passed 10-1 to have staff report back on the matter.
The motion, which was brought forward by Councillor Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale), directed staff to report back to the Planning Committee no later than the end of March 2025 “on the feasibility of the City of Hamilton adopting and enforcing a by-law to prohibit protests at places of worship and their facilities.”
The motion continues that the by-law must also focus on “balancing the fundamental importance of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, with the safety and well-being of community members accessing these places of worship and their facilities.”
Other cities in Ontario have enacted similar by-laws, particularly after the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel which has seen increased protests outside places of worship, particularly synagogues.
Such by-laws have seen the creation of “bubble zones” outside places of worship, meaning that protests would be prohibited within a certain radius of any facility.
In the City of Vaughan, for example, “nuisance demonstrations” must take place no less than 100 metres away from “vulnerable social infrastructure” such as places of worship with violators potentially receiving a fine of up to $100,000.
The City of Brampton has enacted a similar by-law after violent protests outside a Hindu temple in the city in November 2024.
That protest involved activists who want to see an independent Sikh state in India called Khalistan and was held in opposition to the fact that Indian consular officials were invited to an event at the temple.
In comments in support of her motion, Wilson explained, “The question I am asking city staff is the following: if people wishing to attend and assemble in church, in temple, their mosque, or synagogue in search of fellowship, peace, quiet, communion and worship are met with protest and disrupted in their effort to do so or they feel intimidated in their effort to do so is there an opportunity, an obligation to do all we can to enable them to do so and to feel safe?”
She noted that “some may argue that existing laws in the Criminal Code may be enough to combat protests that threaten or intimidate,” but added that other municipalities such as Ottawa, Mississauga, Calgary, Brampton, and Toronto have considered the feasibility of such a by-law and that Hamilton should at least look into doing the same.
Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton) was the lone Councillor to vote against the motion, arguing, “I don’t think we should be infringing upon people’s rights to protest, period.”
Kroetsch has been regularly known to take part in various protests and rallies, albeit normally at Hamilton City Hall.
He added that “if something illegal happens” then that is up to police to deal with.
Other Councillors worried that a by-law could be too broad, particularly in terms of what buildings would be included under other religious “facilities.”
Another consideration that was brought up, this time by Councillor Alex Wilson (Ward 13 – Dundas-Central Flamborough), was that faith groups often rent out parts of their facilities to other organizations for events.
He added that sometimes specific speakers at events may be met by protest which could “unintentionally be captured” by a new by-law.
Nevertheless, Councillor A. Wilson voted in favour of receiving a report back from staff on the matter.
“I’m happy to learn more,” he said.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
