Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown announces new Bylaw protecting religious worship from protest disruptions

Brampton’s city council has approved a bylaw to ban protests outside places of worship, following recent unrest. The decision, proposed by Mayor Patrick Brown, came in response to a pro-Khalistan protest that disrupted a consular event outside the Hindu Sabha temple, resulting in violent clashes.

The bylaw, passed unanimously, reflects Mayor Brown’s stance on protecting the right to protest while ensuring it does not interfere with others’ rights. Brown, who had previously voiced concerns about the increase in sectarian violence in Brampton, had assured that the motion would likely receive full support.

The new rule takes inspiration from Vaughan’s similar bylaw, introduced in June after protests near a Thornhill synagogue related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Vaughan’s law restricts protests within 100 meters of places of worship, schools, child-care centers, and hospitals, with potential fines reaching $100,000 for violations.

In a social media video, Peel Region Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah called for calm, stating that recent demonstrations had “escalated well beyond acceptable limits” and that some individuals were deliberately inciting conflict.