The British Columbia government has introduced legislation that it says will put in place 20-metre access zones around schools to protect students from disruptive behaviour, including aggressive protests.

Premier David Eby says there has been at least 18 such protests at schools, and the law would stop people from blocking access, attempting to intimidate another person or disrupting school activities, such as banging on classroom windows.

Eby says these are things that shouldn’t need law, but unfortunately the legislation is necessary.

The premier says most of the protests involved demonstrators angry about the sexual orientation and gender identity education being taught in schools.

Attorney General Niki Sharma says while the right to peaceful protest is an important part of democracy, those activities can’t affect the safety and security of children, school staff and educators.

She says the legislation is an important tool to help safeguard schools and protect children from intimidation and harassment so they can feel safe to learn.

Earlier this year, the Kamloops-Thompson School District said that its board meetings will begin with a warning statement letting people know that rude or foul language is not acceptable.

“We can have people with differing opinions and we certainly have not had an issue in SD73, but that is not to say there haven’t been disruptions provincially at different board meetings,” Board Chair Heather Grieve said.

The statement goes on to say if that it the School Board feels the meeting is no longer manageable, they will call the police, if necessary.