Calgary bylaw seeks to put distance between protesters, city facilities

A proposed new City of Calgary bylaw would limit any hateful protest from taking place within 100 metres of the entrance of city libraries and recreation centres.

The City of Calgary is hoping a new bylaw can provide some protection for city staff and groups who have been targeted by hateful protests.

Dubbed the “Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw,” any protest that objects to or disapproves of any race, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age, place of origin, marital or family status, sexual orientation or income source within 100 metres of entrances to a public library or recreation centre would break that bylaw. The bylaw also prohibits similar protests within those facilities.

Repeat offences would result in a doubling or tripling of minimum fines. Offenders could face fines of up to $10,000 and/or a year in prison.

But the proposed bylaw does not ban protests.

“This is really about striking that balance for that right to protest, but also providing what is – and it’s very much in the title of the bylaw – safe and inclusive access,” Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner said. “It is providing that zone where people can enter and exit a facility free of intimidation or harassment, be that verbal or non-verbal.

Part of the proposed changes coming to city council on March 14 include the addition of the word “intimidation” to the interpretation of the word “harass” in the city’s Public Behaviour Bylaw.

“The psychological and physical safety of Calgarians is at risk,” Penner said. “And I can say personally, I have had friends reach out to me, I have had members of the community reach out to me who are very concerned for their safety.

“I think this is a responsible step for us to take to provide a duty of care to citizens and a duty of care to providing safe access to services that they are entitled to.”