Regulating protests near Places of Worship in Mississauga

The City is considering whether to develop a new by-law that would regulate some forms of protests near Places of Worship in Mississauga to ensure safety. The City is inviting feedback from the community to determine the best course of action to address some concerns that have been raised.

The City will not interfere with protests as long as gatherings remain peaceful and comply with all laws and by-laws. The public also has the right to safely access community spaces without fear of violence or intimidation.

Municipalities like Mississauga are working to find the right balance – ensuring residents can express their views peacefully while maintaining public safety, security, and access to places of worship. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, people have the right to peacefully assemble, but this right must be balanced with the right to worship and visit places of worship in peace and security.

Municipalities like Calgary, Vaughan and Brampton have developed a specific by-law that creates a “buffer zone” around places of worship. In the cases of Calgary and Vaughan, the buffer zone also surrounds sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and community centers. These by-laws aim to prevent intimidation, harassment, violence, and the potential for hate-motivated incidences within the buffer zone surrounding these .

Research, consultation and engagement

Following direction from Mississauga City Council, the City is starting to conduct research, public engagement, and community consultations. The feedback will be gathered from the public, community groups, partners, legal experts, and faith leaders. By asking for your feedback, the City seeks to better understand various perspectives and the broader impacts that a new by-law would have on the community.

In the coming weeks, residents will have the opportunity to comment and provide input to help inform recommendations on whether the City needs a new by-law that regulates certain forms of protests near Places of Worship.

Next steps

The City will continue its research and begin consultation and engagement work within the community in March. Once completed, the findings will be summarized in a corporate report. City staff are expected to report back with recommendations at General Committee on May 21, 2025, along with a draft by-law, if necessary.

For more about the project, visit mississauga.ca/protestbylaw.

Background

On November 13, 2024, the Mississauga City Council unanimously approved a motion brought forward by Ward 7 Councillor, Dipika Damerla. The motion directed City staff to “consider the feasibility of implementing a by-law that prohibits demonstrations within 100 meters, or within reasonable distance, of places of worship at the earliest possible time.​”

On December 11, 2024, City Council approved a corporate report on this issue (“Feasibility of Implementing a By-law to Prohibit Certain Forms of Protest Near Places of Worship”).  Council directed the City Solicitor “to conduct research, consult with experts, and hold public consultations as may be necessary to report back to Council with a Report and, if necessary, a draft by-law, recommending the preferred course of action to address protests occurring near places of worship.” The research to be conducted would include consultation with a Charter of Rights expert and public consultation with affected community groups.

Tags

• Enforcement and Fines
• Public Consultation and Engagement
• Public Safety