Weeks after pro-Khalistan protesters targeted a consular event outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Canada, two cities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) on Wednesday took action to limit protests near places of worship. Mississauga and Brampton city councils passed motions aimed at restricting demonstrations in these sensitive areas, in response to recent incidents that heightened community concerns.

Mississauga was the first to move forward with this measure. The city council unanimously approved a motion introduced by Councillor Dipika Damerla, with all ten members voting in favour. Following the vote, Damerla shared on X: “#Mississauga council just passed a motion directing staff to look at implementing a bylaw that bans all protests in front of all places of worship. This is leadership.”

Under the motion, city staff will explore “the feasibility of implementing a by-law that prohibits demonstrations within 100 metres, or within a reasonable distance, of a place of worship at the earliest possible time.” Brampton City Council approved a similar measure later the same day.