EDITORIAL: ‘Bubble zones’ are long overdue

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It’s a scathing indictment of the inability or unwillingness of police and politicians across this country to enforce the law that cities are voting to allow “bubble zones” around places of worship, schools and daycares.

Had the cops been doing their jobs since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, masked protesters wouldn’t have been allowed to harass worshippers outside synagogues or intimidate children on their way to school.

Toronto city council has passed a bylaw, which will come into effect July 2, permitting institutions to apply for 50-metre buffer zones. Vaughan and Brampton already have similar rules. Ottawa is mulling over the idea. Calgary implemented a similar bylaw in March, which is now being challenged in court.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will bring in legislation that will make it a crime to block places of worship and other institutions.

It’s about time.

There are those who argue that such measures restrict freedom of expression. That’s utter nonsense. Your right to free expression ends at your neighbour’s right to worship freely without having masked demonstrators on their doorstep. Your right to freedom of speech ends where a child’s right to attend school without fear begins.

The objection put forth by union leaders and others is that we already have hate laws in place to deal with such aggression.

Calling for the bylaw vote to be defeated, CUPE’s Michael Hurley posted on X: “Preventing protest around public institutions is a frontal attack on our fundamental right to free speech. Police have full powers to protect people and institutions from violence or harassment.”

Really? So where’s the enforcement of those laws?

Why do worshippers have to run the gauntlet of masked protestors to enter synagogues? Why are major streets in our largest cities routinely blocked by demonstrations? Why are Jewish-owned businesses defaced and smoke-bombed?

Why is it okay for one specific group in our society to be targeted day in and day out? What civil society allows schools to be shot up?

The “bubble zones” are long overdue.

Yes, peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy.

What we’ve witnessed verges on lawlessness. We must take back our streets before they descend into anarchy.