Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca is calling on the city to approve a bylaw banning protests outside places of worship, schools, and child care facilities that “incite hatred, bigotry, and violence.”

Del Duca announced his proposal Monday morning after a number of “intimidation acts” in the city over the past weeks and months.

“Last November, some of our residents had to face anti-Semitic graffiti at the Chabad House in Maple. And just a few days later, there was a bomb threat against the Jafari Community Centre.

He said the city has recently witnessed “large and ugly protests” near Jewish temples, schools, and child care centers in Thornhill, which he says “raise deep concerns” for residents.

The bylaw proposed by Del Duca would ban demonstrations within 100 meters of those spaces and anyone who violates it can face a fine of up to $100,000.

“Enough is enough. What we saw was not peaceful. It is disrespectful. It does not reflect our values. The right to protest is fundamental to what it means to be Canadian. But that right is not unlimited,” he said.

At least one of the demonstrations Del Duca referred to Monday took place earlier this month outside a Jewish synagogue in Thornhill, when a man brought a nail gun to a pro-Palestinian protest and fired at protesters. No injuries were reported.

In a joint statement, the Greater Toronto UJA Federation and CIJA (Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs) welcomed the announcement and called on city council to pass the proposal “quickly.”

The organizations said: “Whether at a house of worship, a community centre, or a school, people should never have to walk through hate protests just to participate in community life.”