00:00There are two specific groups that we've been concerned about in terms of protest activities
00:09and other activities, harassing activities, targeted at these groups recently. It is a
00:14disturbing trend. It is not unique to British Columbia, but it is one that British Columbia
00:19is uniquely taking on. The first group is kids going to school. Children need to be able to
00:26attend their schools. The staff need to be able to get to schools without harassment,
00:31without intimidation. This is a basic fundamental right to education that every child has in
00:37our province, and we're going to make sure that that is delivered.
00:40The other group is people who worship. Now, regardless of your faith, regardless of how
00:46you pray, there is a fundamental requirement here in the province under our government
00:52that everybody be able to pray and worship as they wish, and to do so without harassment
01:00and intimidation. These are core rights in a free and democratic society, and unfortunately,
01:07we have seen disturbing incidents that have raised concerns here in British Columbia and
01:13across the country. Just this weekend, in Ontario, there were shots fired at synagogues, profoundly
01:22threatening, violent, aimed expressly at intimidating the Jewish community in Ontario. We have seen
01:32similar disturbing events here in British Columbia targeting not just the Jewish community, but
01:38a number of different religious communities in the province. In addition, we're here to
01:43announce that we will be extending similar protection that exists for schools in British Columbia. We
01:50established the Safe Access to Schools Act in 2023. This was created in response to similar
01:57disruptive protests that were targeted at school officials and students going into school. That
02:03included adults shouting at and disrupting and intimidating children and staff and blocking their access.
02:12We have that law created a safe zone around schools to make sure that students and staff would be able
02:18to get to class safely. As a result of that law, we saw disruptions go down very significantly, but
02:23unfortunately, they did not and were not eliminated completely. And so we have made the decision to extend
02:31the protections under this law to 2028. This legislation that's being tabled today in relation to places of
02:37worship. Is that motivated in part by the crime and the attacks we've seen against synagogues in Ontario in the
02:43past week? Can you speak briefly about whether there has been an increase in violence against places of worship,
02:51generally in BC? And what role you think perhaps some of the events going on overseas have had in terms
02:57of agitating hatred, you know,
02:59directed at different places of worship? Thanks, Rob. This really comes from a disturbing trend that we've
03:08seen. And it persists across a number of different religious groups, where people who are attempting to
03:17get to a church or a temple or a godwara or a mosque are intimidated out of attending because of
03:26activities that
03:29are taking place that are intended to intimidate. And this happens either during services or when services are not
03:37happening. But regardless, the message is the same. And we just simply won't stand for it. It is not any
03:45one religious
03:46group. We have had concerns raised by an array of religious groups. You can see behind me, faith leaders from
03:53the diversity of the
03:54faiths in the province represented, because they all share these concerns. And you can't legislate common sense. But in this
04:04case, we're trying to. We're trying to say, look, someone's trying to get to their religious institution to pray. Leave
04:11them
04:11alone. Let them do it. And have your protest. But let people go about their business. And so we think
04:20this will hopefully send the
04:22message that it did in relation to schools.
04:25Which is just give your head a shake. That's not the best place for your protest. Take it somewhere else.
04:30It's clearly laid out in the bill that I'll be tabling suit exactly the specific behaviors that
04:34aren't allowed, including intimidation, causing mental or physical harassment to people, obstructing access to
04:42the place of worship. These types of behaviors that we know were causing the most harm. There's also an access
04:50zone. So the access zone would mean that those behaviors are prohibited except for 20 meters.
04:56There's up to 20 meters beyond the property line of that place of worship. So that's the access zone that's
05:01being carved out. And those specific behaviors will be not allowed in there if this bill passes.
05:06So that's what I'm going to say.
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