Protests by opponents of health measures across the country led to a rare common front on the electoral campaign ground. Federal leaders have united in denouncing the fact that these anti-vaccines meet in front of hospitals and sometimes block access. Justin trudeau and Jagmeet Singh went so far as to promise to tighten up the Criminal Code to protect healthcare workers and their patients.
From Montreal to Toronto, via Winnipeg and Halifax, the group “Front-line nurses of Canada” had organized “silent vigils” in front of hospitals to denounce health measures such as the vaccination passport introduced in some provinces.
In turn, federal leaders deplored “unacceptable” demonstrations.
Liberal Justin Trudeau has vowed to amend the Criminal Code, if re-elected, to ban blocking access to health care buildings, including hospitals, vaccination clinics, testing clinics, pharmacies or even abortion clinics. A Liberal government would also make it a criminal offense to intimidate or harass a health care worker or person receiving health care.
“I agree that it is a little ridiculous that we have reached this point in this country,” said Trudeau at a press briefing in Vancouver. “In a country like Canada, […] to have to say explicitly that, no, you should not be scaring nurses while they are going to do their jobs, you should not be able to spit or yell at the doctors who are coming in for save lives. But we are there, ”noted the Liberal leader.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh also condemned the protests. “I would like them to be banned, absolutely, and one way to do that is to ask for harsher sentences to send a clear message that this is not allowed. Singh is proposing to amend the Criminal Code to make threatening patients or healthcare workers as aggravating factors, as well as preventing them from receiving or providing care.
Police forces already have the power, under provincial or municipal laws, to intervene to disperse a demonstration. Six provinces – including Quebec – also have laws banning demonstrations near abortion clinics. Quebec law provides for a fine of $ 500 to $ 2,500, depending on the type of offense.
However, the Liberals want to toughen penalties through the Criminal Code and expand “safe zones” to all health care facilities.
The conservative leader, Erin O’Toole, did not comment on the possibility of toughening the law. “I have confidence in the capacity of our police forces and our municipal authorities to ensure access to services and for our front-line workers”, he simply indicated, speaking of the right to demonstrate in a peaceful manner. . “But to harass and try to block access to health care, in a pandemic, it is completely unacceptable,” he insisted.
Yves-Francois Blanchet, of Bloc Quebecois, called on “opponents of vaccination, whatever their arguments, to use decent means to express them”.
Cities and provinces are also furious
Monday’s vigils all seemed peaceful, with the Facebook invitation calling for refraining from blocking hospital entrances. In Montreal, there were no crowds in front of the McGill University Health Center. But other rallies have blocked access to hospitals in recent weeks. An ambulance even had difficulty making its way through the crowds at one of them in Vancouver earlier this month.
The government of Francois Legault did not rule out Monday extending the ban on demonstrations to the movement against vaccination. “We are evaluating all our options at the moment, both for demonstrations taking place in front of hospitals and in front of schools,” said the office of Minister of Health, Christian Dubé.
“Antivaccines choose the wrong target”, commented the latter. on Twitter Monday afternoon. “The police will closely monitor the demonstrations. “
The Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, held a press briefing to denounce the demonstration at the MUHC as well as the one organized in front of a school last Friday. Calling herself “outraged and angry”, Mme Plante spoke directly to the protesters. ” You do not agree ? Fine, it’s correct. But to prevent people from going to be vaccinated, to do their job or to treat people, or to go to study, that’s no, ”she mocked. Toronto Mayor John Tory made similar comments.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford lamented on Twitter “selfish, cowardly and reckless” manifestations. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney – also a Conservative – has denounced on social networks the “appalling judgment” of a small minority of protesters and warned that the Alberta police had the power to intervene.
With Jeanne Corriveau
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