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VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is bringing in legislation to prevent intimidation, harassment and obstruction of people from going to their temples, churches and other places of worship.
The 20-metre protection zones for religious sites represent an expansion of rules set up for schools in 2024 to help ensure behaviour in public spaces is safe and respectful.
Standing in front of a group of religious leaders from around Greater Victoria, Premier David Eby said Monday that there was a disturbing trend across different religious groups where people are intimidated away from their places of worship.
“We have had concerns raised by an array of religious groups. You can see behind me, faith leaders from a diversity of faiths in the province represented, because they all share these concerns, and you can’t legislate common sense. But in this case, we are trying to,” the premier said.
Eby said he hoped the legislation sends the same message that was sent when the similar law was created for schools, which is “give your head a shake, it’s not the best place for your protest.”
The announcement comes after three Toronto-area synagogues were shot at since March 2.
The shootings prompted police in Vancouver and Victoria to send additional patrols to Jewish places of worship and community organizations.
Rabbi Meir Kaplan of Chabad of Vancouver Island said after the announcement there was no question that the last two years had seen some concerning events, noting the 2024 arson attack at the Schara Tzedeck Synagogue in Vancouver.
Kaplan also pointed to cases of online intimidation and harassment.
“I don’t think this bill will solve all the problems, but I do think that this is one step in the right direction of our province standing for the rights of religious freedom, which is really the foundation of our rights as a citizen of this country.”
Once passed, the legislation would allow police to intervene to curb disruptive behaviour, just as they can under the Safe Access to Schools Act.
The proposed legislation says places of worship must post notices if they want to establish access zones.
The government says “police would be able to arrest or issue tickets to anyone found impeding access, disrupting or interfering with these zones, or attempting to intimidate an individual within 20 metres of the property.”
The legislation protecting places of worship comes with a sunset clause that would require it to be reassessed in 2030. The government meanwhile plans to extend until 2028 the sunset clause on the school legislation, which was set to activate in July.
Kaplan said he would also like to see legislation against hate on the internet.
“But I think what we are seeing here is the government standing up, and saying people of faith should be able to practice their religion with no fear, and I think that is a very good, important statement.”
Attorney General Niki Sharma said online safety needs to be part of a bigger discussion. “I think nobody has been untouched by that, and certainly, the hate that is spread online.”
But Sharma said the federal government was best placed to deal with this issue. “So, we have been encouraging them to step up … to have some stronger rules,” she said. “But I think that is an aspect of our society that needs attention.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2026.
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
