Requesting the Province to Create Safety Zones Around Places of Worship, Faith-Based Schools and Vulnerable Community Social Infrastructure - by Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor James Pasternak

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The decision

2024-05-22 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on May 22 and 23, 2024, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to develop an action plan to recognize that Torontonians are able to practice their faith and access their place of worship free of intimidation and harassment; and are able to freely exercise their protected Charter rights to freedom of assembly, religion and expression and convey

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the action plan directly to relevant participating bodies including Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Toronto Police Service Board.

The vote

Amend Item · Carried, 13-11

For (13)Alejandra Bravo, Amber Morley, Anthony Perruzza, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise, Gord Perks, Jamaal Myers, Josh Matlow, Olivia Chow, Parthi Kandavel, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Shelley Carroll

Against (11)Brad Bradford, Dianne Saxe, Frances Nunziata, James Pasternak, Jennifer McKelvie, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Mike Colle, Nick Mantas, Stephen Holyday, Vincent Crisanti

Absent (1)Michael Thompson

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On the agenda

As the city filed it

Since October 2023, there has been an increase in protests and demonstrations across the world, and Toronto has been no exception. In March 2024, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw reported that Toronto has seen a 93 percent increase in hate crimes since October 7, 2023. A shocking 56 percent of incidents have been antisemitic and target Toronto's Jewish minority - but there have also been increases in anti-LGBTQ hate, anti-Black hate, and anti-Arab, Muslim and Palestinian hate.

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At the October 2023 Council meeting, Council unanimously passed Mayor Chow's motion 2023.MM11.37, "Keeping Toronto Safe from Hate." This motion supported the creation of "community safety zones… inclusive of areas surrounding places of worship and cultural and religious daycares and schools recognized as a potential target for hate." To date, no such zones have been created. Instead, demonstrations continue to occur close to and target such facilities, creating fear and distress for many Torontonians. This is why we ask the Province to urgently develop policy and legislation to create safety zones with a radius of 50 to 150 metres, modelled on the "bubble zone" laws that protect women's access to reproductive health, such as Ontario's Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017. All people of Toronto have the right to safely gather and peacefully co-exist. While we must protect the right to peaceful protest and ensure all Torontonians have an opportunity to voice their opinion, this must not extend to disturbing protests that target vulnerable locations such as places of worship, faith-based schools, daycares, or cultural community centres. Torontonians are looking to their elected officials to take action to ensure their safety.

Staff recommended

1. City Council request the Attorney-General of Ontario to introduce legislation to permit peaceful protests or demonstrations while creating safety zones (modelled on Ontario's "bubble zone" law that protects women's access to reproductive health), for places of worship; faith-based schools, daycares, community centres and museums; and other institutions of a religious or cultural nature.

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