On Monday, health workers and Canadian patients clashed with several anti-vaxxer protesters outside hospitals, including University Health Network’s Toronto General Hospital.
While the protests took place, Justin Trudeau announced that if the Liberals are re-elected, the government would move forward with legislation to make it a criminal offense to obstruct access to any place in health services, including hospitals, and turn it into a criminal offense. “intimidate or threaten any health professional who performs his or her professional duties.”
In recent weeks I have been deeply concerned about anti-vaxxer meetings outside hospitals and health centers. These people intimidate our health heroes and put Canadians seeking health services at risk.Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
“I will not accept it. That is why we will take firm measures to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need and keep our front-line health workers safe. Only our liberal team will end this fight against COVID-19 and keep the our safe and healthy communities. “
Other federal party leaders also commented on the protests.
NPD leader Jagmeet Singh, who earlier announced a plan to turn it into a Criminal Code offense to harass or prevent someone from accessing health care or assaulting health workers, condemned the protests on Monday.
“There is no room for protests threatening health workers and patients. It is wrong,” Singh said in a statement. “This is not the place to protest.”
“We would make it an aggravating element of a sentence if someone somehow threatened a healthcare worker, threatened patients and hindered their ability to access care. That’s not 100%.”
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole also joined the conversation saying “no one should be allowed to block access to a hospital.”
On Monday, mayors and presidents of the Toronto and Hamilton area issued a statement about the hospital’s protests.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have all relied on our front-line health heroes to save lives and help people,” the statement says. “People go to hospitals because they need medical help; they don’t deserve to be harassed or intimidated by protests either.
“Mayors and chairs strongly condemn the protests intentionally directed at hospitals and support our officials to take whatever steps they deem necessary to protect our hospitals and keep patients and health care workers safe.”
Speaking to reporters, Toronto Mayor John Tory responded to a question about why city police and staff are able to remove parks from parks, but it seems more difficult to eliminate anti- vaxxers in front of local hospitals. Tory called this an “unfair comparison.”
“The police understand that they have the discretion and responsibility to enforce the law and decide where the line is between harassment and peaceful protest,” the Toronto mayor said.
Several Canadians, including health workers, have turned to social media to respond to the protests.