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Ontario is consulting the public on legislative and non-legislative changes to address demonstrations that block key infrastructure such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and places of worship. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says the move is about ensuring barrier-free access, not restricting protests.
Ontario has launched a public consultation on possible new measures to address demonstrations that block what the province calls key infrastructure. The announcement was made in an online post inviting residents to weigh in on growing concerns about such obstructions.
Ontario Considers Legislative Measures
The province is considering both legislative and non-legislative changes that could address obstruction to infrastructure and provide enforcement tools. One question asks whether Ontario should legislate a prohibition on unauthorized, willful obstruction of a roadway, including overpasses and bridges, where the obstruction is intentional, cannot be easily avoided and blocks travel. Another question asks whether the province should create a new provincial offence for those who do not comply.
It also asks whether individuals should be required to provide identifying information for the purpose of issuing a provincial offence notice. Other ideas floated include developing new police authorities and creating new arrest powers for failing to comply. The infrastructure referenced could include religious institutions, culturally-specific community centres and schools. Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner spoke about the consultation on Newstalk 1010 with Dub Hutton on Friday.
Kerzner Defends Infrastructure Protection
He said the province is trying to provide people with barrier-free access to infrastructure without intimidation. We want to make sure that people do not have the right to block a place of key infrastructure, a roadway, a bridge, a firehall, a house of worship, a school, a hospital, Kerzner said. Kerzner asserted the move is not about restricting protests.
He said he does not think one person would give a reason why they should be able to block the on-ramp to the Gardiner Expressway or stand and block an ambulance going from Mount Sinai Hospital or Hennick Humber Hospital. Those days have to come to an end, he said. Asked about possible constitutional challenges to the proposed changes, Kerzner said he did not know what the outcome would be.
I do not know what the courts will do but I know what the population wants, he said, adding that he and the premier have received calls from Ontarians on the issue. He said asking the public to participate in the consultation process is 100 per cent the right way to do it.
I am proud to be part of a government, led by the premier, that itself will not be intimidated to go forward with ideas, with consultation, because it is the right thing to do and yeah, I am not going to stop, Kerzner said. The province's proposed measures come after Toronto City Council voted last year to create a bylaw that would limit protests outside places of worship and other vulnerable institutions on a case-by-case basis.
Several members of city council did not support the decision, including Coun. Gord Perks. If we do not encourage the right to protest, we lose all the democratic rights that have been built up in Canada over time, Perks said at the time. Other cities, including Vaughan and Brampton, previously passed laws to limit demonstrations around places of worship after large-scale, and in some cases violent, protests broke out near synagogues and temples.
Federal Government Vows Criminal Provisions
The federal government has also vowed to create new criminal provisions against blocking access to places of worship, schools and community centres. Speaking about the federal government's plan in 2025, Anais Bussieres McNicoll, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, noted that even if a protest is disruptive, it is also protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of peaceful assembly.
As a parent myself, I know that any protest can be sometimes scary for a child. We are talking about loud voices, huge crowds, emotions are running high, she said.
So I believe it is part of my role as a parent to teach my child about what living in a democracy means, why we need protests, why we need space in our society for strong language, including language that we disagree with, and to teach my child about what we can do if we personally disagree with speech that we hear, she said. The consultation is now open to the public.
Ontario residents can submit their views on the proposed measures through the province's online portal.
CP24 
CTVToronto:Ontario launches public consultation on new measures to limit protests blocking ‘key infrastructure’This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Ontario Protest Consultation Key Infrastructure Obstruction Michael Kerzner Peaceful Assembly Rights Places Of Worship Protests
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