In a decisive move to protect religious freedoms and curb rising tensions, Brampton city council unanimously passed a bylaw banning “nuisance demonstrations” within 100 meters of places of worship. The decision comes in the wake of violent protests that recently shook the city, igniting concerns over the safety of religious minorities and their ability to worship peacefully.
The motion, proposed by Mayor Patrick Brown, was approved on Wednesday, with fines for violating the bylaw ranging from $500 to $100,000. The council’s decision reflects growing efforts to maintain harmony in the face of aggressive actions by extremist groups.
Spoke to @CP24 about #Brampton’s unanimous decision to restrict protests at places of worship.
— Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) November 20, 2024
Religious freedom is a foundational principle in Canada. We are always proud to defend this value in Brampton! pic.twitter.com/JmKcde6um4
“This is fundamentally about the right to pray,” Mayor Brown explained in a conversation with the Toronto Sun. “Whether you go to a Mandir (a Hindu temple), a Gurdwara (a Sikh place of worship), a synagogue, a mosque, or a church, everyone has the right to worship without harassment.”
Mayor Brown further elaborated that the bylaw was carefully crafted to balance the constitutionally protected right to protest with the equally protected right to religious freedom. “We sought outside legal opinions to ensure the bylaw met legal thresholds. In Canada, when one right infringes upon another, limits can be placed to uphold both. We believe this measure strikes the right balance.”
🚨 The City of Brampton recently passed By-Law 173-2024, prohibiting nuisance demonstrations outside places of worship.
— Ratinder Dhaliwal (@RatinderDhali6) November 21, 2024
However, it allows peaceful protests against foreign governments at place of worship under specific exception in Section 6(b). pic.twitter.com/ILy3sAZ1LG
This development is seen as a response to the increasing aggression of Khalistan extremist groups in Canada. In recent months, these groups have targeted religious minorities, heightening tensions and prompting urgent calls for stricter measures to safeguard vulnerable communities. Brampton, a city known for its diverse population, has taken a strong stance to ensure that no group or individual is subjected to intimidation or harassment while practicing their faith.
Despite Brampton’s strong stance against nuisance demonstrations near places of worship, the broader Canadian federal framework, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, still permits peaceful protests against foreign governments at these sites under a specific exception in Section 6(b) of the bylaw. Khalistan extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun tweeted about this in a recently.
Pannun is now declaring that the new ban on protests outside places of worship doesn’t apply to them if they claim to be protesting the Indian government.
— Daniel Bordman (@DanielBordmanOG) November 21, 2024
Let’s see how @patrickbrownont handles this. pic.twitter.com/e32GTt827I
Critics argue that this reflects Trudeau’s ongoing appeasement of Khalistan extremists, as it leaves room for these groups to exploit the provision to target religious minorities under the guise of political dissent. While Brampton’s new measures are a step forward, the federal government’s reluctance to fully block such protests has drawn backlash for prioritizing political sensitivities over the safety and rights of vulnerable communities.
