Peterborough politicians condemn protests outside the home of medical officer of health – Peterborough | The Canadian News

Peterborough’s top politicians say protests at the residence of medical officer of health Dr Thomas Piggott cross the line of what is acceptable.

Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien says the actions of a “handful” of individuals are “out of order.”

By Thursday afternoon, police had arrested two people after responding to reports of a protest at the home of Piggot, the MOH for Peterborough Public Health.

Police also attended the East City home due to a demonstration on Saturday.

Piggott began his role at the health unit in December 2021 and “hit the ground running,” and was a “great leader,” says Therrien.

“I hear about these things and hate to give these people airtime,” she told Global News Peterborough. “It’s basically a handful of people who have reached a peak in high school who are desperately trying to convince themselves and others that they are interesting and meaningful at all.

“They really act like mosquitoes – just plague around.”

Therrien says public health leaders like Piggott need to be supported.

“Not agreeing is one thing, but going after someone at home with young children… it saddens me that this is the welcome he gets from our community,” Therrien said. “I know there are only a handful of people who can better spend their time doing a puzzle, volunteering at One Roof – actually doing something productive.

“But I think he knows the general community is supportive and has his back,” she said.

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This is a sentiment shared by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP, Dave Smith, who said he was “extremely disappointed” with a number of individuals after the latest incident.

He says although he supports an individual’s right to protest, he does so by writing letters to him or his federal counterpart MP Michelle Ferreri, or protesting outside their constituency office, or visiting Queen’s Park in Toronto or Parliament Hill in Ottawa. .

“But it’s 100 percent unacceptable – I can not stress it enough – to harass and intimidate an individual who is trying to help our community by going to their home and doing so,” Smith said.

“It’s 100 percent an intimidation tactic and it should not happen.”

“Everyone in our community should stand up and say, ‘I do not accept this, I will not accept this as the norm.’

Smith called the individuals “hypocrites” because they had access to personal property to protest.

“Some individuals say they do it for their constitutional rights – you just trampled on another individual’s constitutional rights,” he said. “So do not be a hypocrite.”

In a statement to Global News Peterborough, Ferreri reiterated her condemnation after Saturday’s initial protest.

“I want to be clear, I condemn this behavior,” Ferreri said. “When protests turn into personal attacks on our public health workers, a line must be drawn.”

Piggott was not available for comment Thursday. His regular weekly online media briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic has been canceled and rescheduled for Friday. Peterborough police are also expected to attend the hearing.

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