Ontario Weighs New Offence, ID Requirement and Arrest Powers for Blocking Roads
The Ontario government has asked the public whether to ban unauthorized, intentional obstruction of roads, overpasses and bridges that cannot be easily avoided and blocks travel. It also asked about police powers to order people to stop, a new provincial offence for not complying, a requirement to identify yourself, and an arrest power limited to people who refuse to identify themselves when their identity cannot otherwise be established. A second set of questions covers access to places of worship, community centres and schools. The Ministry of the Solicitor General posted the consultation on Oct. 1, 2026, and comments closed Oct. 31. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says the move is "not about restricting protests" and that he does not know what the courts will do. This site found no bill.
🔍 A proposed Transparency policy from October 2026 · Well sourced
Updated · Created
"Barrier-Free Access"
The posting says barrier-free access to key infrastructure supports public safety and economic development. The Solicitor General says it is about keeping roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and houses of worship open without intimidation, that it is not about restricting protests, and that asking the public is the right way to proceed.
"We want to make sure that people don't have the right to block a place of key infrastructure, a roadway, a bridge, a firehall, a house of worship, a school, a hospital."
— Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, Newstalk 1010, October 2, 2026 (via CP24)
"A New Offence, ID Requirement and Arrest Powers Under Discussion"
The posting asks about a legislated ban on unauthorized, intentional obstruction of roads that cannot be easily avoided and blocks travel, police directions to stop, a new provincial offence, a requirement to give identifying information and an arrest power for people who refuse to identify themselves. A second set of questions covers community and cultural sites. It gives no offence wording or fines. Kerzner says he does not know what the courts will do.
- Proposal 26-SOLGEN020 asks about a legislated prohibition on obstructing roads, police directions, a new provincial offence, identifying information and an arrest power limited to people who refuse to identify themselves (Ontario Regulatory Registry)source
- Ontario already bans impeding U.S. border crossings and other infrastructure named by regulation, except where the effect is trivial, transient or minor or can easily be avoided. Individuals face fines of up to $100,000 (Keeping Ontario Open for Business Act)source
- Toronto police told Kerzner they made over 460 arrests and laid more than 1,000 charges in two years, and said they support Highway Traffic Act amendments for the Avenue Road bridge (CP24)source
- A judge dismissed the Attorney General's application for an injunction against a Toronto rally in March 2026 (CP24)source
- On Oct. 27, Kerzner told the legislature he hopes the government will develop its position on protesters blocking key infrastructure "further and faster" (Hansard)source
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
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