Is it still a crime to picket in Canada?

Not if it is carried out peacefully. The government passed a law in 1872 to outlaw violence, intimidation, and coercion when carried out to force someone to do something he or she had a right to do, or not to do something he or she had a legal right to do. This action was defined as intimidation in the Criminal Code, but essentially defined the action of picketing. The law was later amended in 1876 to allow for peaceful picketing by stating that being at a workplace just to obtain or communicate information did not fall within the definition of intimidation.

The peaceful picketing amendment was left out when the Criminal Code was passed in 1892. It was re-enacted in 1934 and remains in place today. Picketing is therefore not a criminal activity as long as it is carried out in accordance with the peaceful picketing amendment.

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