CIJA Applauds B.C. Safe Access Legislation

Victoria, B.C. – March 9, 2026 – Today, B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma and Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare announced that the provincial government will introduce legislation to protect safe access to places of worship and renew similar legislation for schools. 

In response, Nico Slobinsky, Vice President – Pacific Region, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued the following statement: 

“Last week, our community was targeted in multiple shootings at Toronto-area synagogues—heinous acts of violence that threaten not only the safety of our community but also the future of our Canadian way of life. Here in B.C., we have seen community institutions, including our places of worship, targeted by aggressive protesters, arson, vandalism, and even firebombs. No child, senior citizen, or family should be unsafe in their place of worship or at school. 

“People are rightly worried by the targeting of their Jewish friends, family, and neighbours: According to polling from Research Co., 86 percent of British Columbians are concerned with the aggressive behaviour of protestors and attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools. 

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, but it does not mean that communities should face harassment or intimidation for practicing their culture, worshipping, or providing services to their most vulnerable. We cannot build a province where everyone can thrive if people are not safe. 

“This is why I am thankful to Attorney General Niki Sharma for acting on the calls of several communities, including the Jewish community, to introduce these new protections for places of worship and renew existing ones for K-12 institutions, including Jewish day schools.

“We look forward to working with the B.C. government on expanding these protections for other spaces used by racialized, ethnocultural, and faith communities that remain at risk.” 

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