Civil liberties are not privileges that can be withdrawn by the state when they become inconvenient. And protests need not be quiet and polite to be constitutionally protected: they can be disruptive, interrupt the ordinary flow of daily life, and be offensive to some without ceasing to be peaceful and non-violent.
These protections, which are vital to a vibrant and functioning democracy, could be threatened if the Government of Ontario were to go forward with the proposal made public on October 1st, 2026.
This proposal considers, among other things, prohibiting unauthorized roadway obstruction in the context of protests despite the absence of safety concerns—as if streets have not long served as vital spaces for the exercise of democratic rights.
Other parts of the proposal duplicate existing legislation and police powers—for example by suggesting a prohibition on people physically obstructing access to property.
To be clear: public safety is important. But it is already adequately protected through existing laws and police powers.
In the absence of a specific, documented, and legitimate public issue that Ontario could demonstrate is unaddressed by existing protections, the government’s proposal only does one thing: erode civil liberties without enhancing public safety.
Read the CCLA’s submission on Ontario’s proposal here.
