Newsfeed & Content Library

As Ontario municipalities adopt bubble zone bylaws to counter rising hate, the legal debate intensifies. ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler joins CBC’s Front Burner to weigh in on the balance between civil liberties and protecting vulnerable communities.

This week, Toronto City Council passed bubble legislation to help protect children, worshippers, and community members from harassment near vulnerable spaces. The legislation—which takes effect July 2—was approved 17–9 after much needed amendments to the draft circulated by city staff. In our editorial, ALCCA describes the new legislation, rebuts claims by its opponents, and outlines the collaborative work done that contributed to its passage.

Ahead of this week's Toronto City Council meeting on bubble legislation, ALCCA’s Chair, Mark Sandler, joined John Tory on Newstalk 1010 to discuss the proposed bylaw. He explained how it aims to protect vulnerable spaces – such as places of worship, schools, and daycares – without restricting protest rights. Citing legal precedent, Sandler emphasized the importance of balancing fundamental freedoms with safeguarding communities from harassment and intimidation.

ALCCA’s Chair provides a detailed update on where bubble legislation stands across the country and a call for provinces to intervene.

CBC reports on Ottawa’s proposed protest buffer zone bylaw. ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler urges councillors to act swiftly to protect vulnerable communities.

In a detailed submission to Toronto’s Mayor and City Councillors, ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler makes the case for adopting municipal “bubble” legislation to safeguard Jewish and other vulnerable communities from targeted hate.

Oakville moves toward bubble legislation to protect vulnerable sites. ALCCA’s Chair, Mark Sandler, provided legal submissions in support.

In this CJN Letter to the Editor, ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler calls for bubble legislation and stronger enforcement to curb intimidation.