Canadians right to protest is gone

With the 2025 G7 Summit just a week away, details about the RCMP and federal government’s security plan and authorized protest zones have been revealed. These decisions echo past controversies involving the Liberal Party and protests, raising important questions about the right to protest and public safety.

The current authorized protest zones for the G7 are located over an hour’s drive—approximately 100km—from the summit’s host location in Kananaskis Village. This distance renders protests virtually ineffective, as participants and politicians alike would be unable to see or hear them. This situation is reminiscent of the Liberal Party’s response to protests they disagreed with, such as those on Parliament Hill during the COVID-19 pandemic, where authorities used force to disperse protesters.

If peaceful protesters were to attempt to demonstrate in a more effective location during the G7 Summit, what would the RCMP do? Would they use force to remove peaceful civilians, or would they simply ask protesters to return to the designated zones?

Another critical issue is the potential violation of Charter rights. Canadians have the right to protest and assemble peacefully. However, the government’s decision to create a 100km buffer zone around the summit raises questions about whether this is a reasonable limitation of these rights. If politicians are not affected by protests, can they truly be considered effective?

The RCMP’s own analysis sheds some light on this decision. A secret RCMP report from March 2024 warned that Canadians may revolt once they realize the extent of the country’s economic struggles. This report suggests that the government may be taking extra precautions to avoid potential disruptions or protests that could escalate into larger issues.

The perception that the ruling class is afraid of the people and is taking measures to insulate themselves from public dissent is a troubling one. It raises the question: Is it reasonable for elected officials to push protesters far away so they can enjoy their time while we struggle? Or do politicians have a duty to let us, the people, demonstrate on their doorstep?

Either way forcing protestors to be an hour away is the erosion of the rights of Canadians to assemble and demonstrate peacefully.