Demonstrations and Protests

• Gather peacefully to assert your rights
• Express your thoughts, beliefs and opinions
• Share your message in a lawful manner
• Have freedom of association

• Harm or injure anyone
• Block or obstruct a highway
• Cause a disturbance or take part in a riot
• Wear a disguise during an unlawful assembly or with the intent to commit a criminal offence
• Disobey a court order
• Possess weapons of any kind, including substances such as tear gas
• Trespass on private property
• Impede a parade

• Leave private property immediately if requested by the owner or an agent. You may be arrested and are subject to being charged with trespassing if you refuse
• Provide your personal information if arrested by a peace officer. You are legally required to provide your information and failure to do so could result in criminal charges

Protesting unlawfully has the potential to affect your future. Charges resulting in a criminal record could result in:

• Travel limitations
• Possibility of limited employment prospects
• Impacts when obtaining insurance or renting housing
• Financial hardship due to fine payments
• Further legal consequences if a court order is breached

• Preserve the peace and maintain public safety
• Work with groups who want to organize an event
• Dialogue and work with all those affected by an event
• In the case of traffic disruptions, work with those involved to minimize the impact on the travelling public and work to restore the orderly flow of traffic in the safest manner possible
• Work with property owners or their agent(s) to remove people from their property if they have been asked to leave
• Respond to unlawful events in an appropriate manner. Violence and criminal activity will not be tolerated
• Investigate criminal wrongdoing

With an increase in global tensions, we are seeing regular protests where individuals are holding signs, using hand or body gestures or exchanging words that are offensive and harmful to community members.

While hate speech, as defined in the Criminal Code, is complex and several contextual factors have to be considered, LPS works closely with the Crown Prosecutor’s Office to review any potential hate crime behaviour at protests to determine if thresholds have been met. 

LPS provides resources at protests to ensure the safety of those participating and will identify behaviour that goes beyond offensive and into hate speech. However, officers may not hear or see everything going on, which is why it is imperative that you report hate as you see it. LPS will take every reported incident of hate seriously.