On Thursday, a significant rally took place outside Toronto city hall, opposing a proposed bylaw intended to restrict demonstrations near places of worship and cultural institutions. Organized by various unions, community, and civil rights groups, the event coincided with the celebration of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Participants, including local city councillors, voiced concerns that the new regulations would infringe on protest rights and express the need for existing laws addressing harassment. Rev. Dr. Paul Shepherd emphasized that discomfort does not equate to danger, advocating for a community that embraces dialogue and justice rather than limiting freedoms.
Of course, nobody should be subject to hate or intimidation, but we already have laws in Canada to address these things. Hate laws, criminal harassment laws, municipal noise laws — we have laws in place.
So this proposal does not fill a gap. It creates a new gap by undermining the freedom to protest.
But we should not confuse discomfort with actual danger. And I say this as someone inside the religious world, places of worship are not always neutral.
Let's build a city where justice, truth and faith can all be shared space, including sidewalks.
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