Town Council approves Safe Access to Places of Worship By-law effective immediately

At last night's meeting, Town Council unanimously approved the Safe Access to Places of Worship By-law 2025-088, restricting certain forms of protest activities near places of worship as well as areas used on a temporary basis to host religious ceremonies or services. The by-law specifies what actions are not allowed within 50 metres of any place of worship to maintain safe public access. 

The by-law takes effect immediately and expressly does not prohibit peaceful gatherings, protests or demonstrations, including but not limited to those related to lawful work actions, showing the town’s commitment to both safety and freedom of expression. 

Other key highlights of the by-law include when it is in effect, specifically, only during the times when a ceremony or service is taking place. The rules in the by-law also apply for one hour before and one hour after the event. This is to help ensure these sites remain accessible during those times. 

Council also directed that consideration of the by-law's applications to any other forms of vulnerable social infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, daycares, and libraries, in Oakville be deferred for one year. This pause will provide additional time for the federal government to fulfill its commitment made during the 2025 federal election to introduce protective legislation.

Town staff have also been instructed to closely monitor future developments and bring a report back to Town Council by June 1, 2026, evaluating the potential for extending the by-law’s application to include other vulnerable social infrastructure.

Lastly, Town Council has requested the Attorneys General of Ontario and Canada to introduce legislation to make it an offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to any place of worship, school, and other vulnerable social infrastructure, and an offence to willfully intimidate or threaten those attending services at these locations, while allowing peaceful protests or demonstrations.

A copy of Council’s resolution will be sent to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of the Attorney General of Ontario, Members of Parliament and Provincial Parliament for Oakville, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to express the Town of Oakville’s support for federal action to protect places of worship and other community spaces from targeted protest and hate-motivated disruption.

For more details and background, review staff reports Potential Protest By-law near Vulnerable Social Infrastructure - Council - May 1, 2025 and Potential Protest By-law near Vulnerable Social Infrastructure – Council – May 12, 2025. Information will also be provided on the Potential protest by-law near vulnerable social infrastructure page.

Quote

“We sincerely appreciate the thoughtful feedback we’ve received from the public on this by-law. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental freedom, just as the ability to access places of worship without fear, obstruction, or intimidation is essential. This by-law takes a focused approach to ensure people can practice their faith safely while respecting the right to peaceful assembly. Town Council and I remain committed to fostering an environment where both worship and peaceful expression can coexist.”

– Mayor Burton 

Background

• Following receipt of the Roles and Responsibilities in Managing Protests staff report at the December 16, 2024 Council Meeting, Oakville Town Council directed staff to engage in virtual public consultation and to research and investigate a draft by-law for Oakville to address certain forms of protests within a reasonable distance of vulnerable community infrastructure.
• The draft by-law aimed to establish access zones around vulnerable social infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, daycares, libraries, and places of worship.
• Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, individuals have a fundamental right of freedom of expression and freedom to protest and demonstrate peacefully as well as freedom of religion. These fundamental rights can have limits and, as such, there is a need to reasonably and responsibly balance these rights in a justifiable manner.
• To help facilitate the community engagement process, the town partnered with Forum Research Inc. to conduct a telephone and online questionnaire that ran for three weeks starting February 12 to March 5, 2025. 
• From March 25 to April 13, 2025, members of the public were then invited to review the town’s first draft of the Safe Access to Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law and submit their comments using an online form.
• At May 1, 2025, Council meeting regarding the Potential Protest By-law near Vulnerable Social Infrastructure staff report and appendices, Town Council introduced a motion directing staff to revise the draft by-law to apply only to places of worship. 
• At the May 12, 2025, Council meeting the Safe Access to Places of Worship By-law 2025-088 was presented and approved by Council.