Writing bylaws requires more careful consideration By: Editorial Posted: 2:00 AM CST Monday, Mar. 2, 2026 Winnipeg City Hall has seen few instances of poetic justice more profound than a recent decision by a city councillor to withdraw a proposed bylaw to ban “nuisance” protests after being overwhelmed by a citizen protest opposed to his plans. It was not surprising that Coun. Evan Duncan’s proposal to ban certain kinds of protests in certain locations of the city failed, although it was difficult to say for sure that it was always doomed. In these fractious times, where elected officials are frequently confronted by “if-you’re-not-with-me-you’re-against-me” ultimatums, it was impossible to be sure city council would not have been possessed by the same poor judgment when asked to vote on the bylaw. Thankfully, it never got that far. After hundreds of citizens registered to speak to the proposal at council, and a peaceful protest in the city hall courtyard, Duncan withdrew the bylaw. The councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood claimed he was standing down the proposed bylaw because of widespread “misinformation” about what he was trying to accomplish. “At no point in time was it ever my intention to ban peaceful protests,” Duncan said. Duncan’s proposed bylaw was many things. Naively conceived, practically impaired and — in all likelihood — constitutionally illegal. But one thing it was not was misunderstood. Duncan’s proposal would have banned what he termed “nuisance” demonstrations from a buffer zone of 100 metres around public buildings — schools, libraries, health-care facilities — any place of worship and even cemeteries. He defined “nuisance” demonstrations as “any in-person protest or demonstration” that involves “the expression by any means … of objection or disapproval towards an idea, action, person or group based on or related to any specific characteristics.” Or any event that “obstructed pedestrians or motor vehicles” without obtaining the app…
City councillor should be voted out next election. Trying to trample Charter rights and then Winnipeggers misunderstood the intention. No. No, we didn't. We saw exactly what they were trying to do. And called it out for what it was. #winnipeg #bylaw #mbpoli
