The B.C. government plans to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting safe access to schools and places of worship across the province.

“The ability for kids to learn and the ability for everyone to pray without harassment or intimidation is fundamental to who we are as Canadians and British Columbians,” said Premier David Eby.

“Unfortunately, in recent years, we’ve seen people targeting places of worship and schools with threatening and coercive behaviour. These new protections will help ensure people can attend school and gather in prayer and celebration in peace.”

The proposed laws would extend existing safe-access zones around schools and create similar protections around places of public worship.

If passed, Bill 12 would extend the province’s Safe Access to Schools Act, first introduced in 2024.

The legislation created “access zones” around schools where certain disruptive behaviour is prohibited.

The zones include school property and a buffer area of about 20 metres around it. Police can intervene if disruptive behaviour occurs within those zones.

The existing law includes a sunset clause set to take effect July 1st, 2026, and the new bill would extend the protections until July 1st, 2028.

According to the province, more than 40 protest disruptions have occurred outside K-12 schools since 2023, interrupting classes and in some cases requiring police intervention.

The second proposed law, the Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act, would establish similar access zones around churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and gurdwaras.

Both proposed laws include built-in reviews.

The safe-access rules for schools would be revisited in 2028, while the legislation for places of worship would be reviewed in 2030 to determine whether the protections remain necessary.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.