Protest against 'medical tyranny' held outside Calgary hospital
A group called Canadian Frontline Nurses staged a protest outside Calgary's Foothills Medical Centre Monday.
The protests, taking place across Canada, are in response to what the group claims to be 'medical tyranny and government overreach.'
Organizers say they're against mandating COVID-19 vaccines to members of the public, health-care workers and other workplaces, and believe in restoring freedoms and rights as Canadian citizens.
The event was part of what protest attendees refer to as the 'National Health Freedom Movement.'
'WE ARE HEADED FOR CAMPS'
Several hundred protesters rallied outside Foothills Meiccal Centre on Monday, calling for an end to mandated vaccines.
“We know where we are headed as the unvaxxed, we are headed for camps and we’re standing for the freedom of every Canadian,” said protester Trevor Simpson.
Simpson said he believed that everyone has a choice to take the jab or not, but it should not be mandated by governments or workplaces.
He said many healthcare workers are being forced to receive the vaccine.
One woman who attended the protest, did not provide her name, but says she’s a retired unit clerk at FMC.
“They are not allowed to speak, we’re only allowed to say one point of view and I don’t think that’s right,” she said.
“Because in a democracy we should all be able to have a debate and talk about these things.”
Douglas Ferguson said he believes unvaccinated people are being segregated within society.
“You have to comply or you’re ostracized and thrown off to the society and (it)becomes an apartheid society,” said Ferguson.
Registered nurse and nurse educator at Macewan University Elly O’Greysik says now is not the time to be protesting vaccines.
“It causes a lot of anger when you find out that you have an unvaccinated patient," she said.
"It's been really hard to grasp that people have an opportunity to stay well," she added, "and that they're not taking it."
POLICE STATEMENT
In a statement to CTV, the Calgary Police Service said it was aware of the protests and planned to have officers on site.
“While we respect the rights and freedoms for a peaceful protest, we will not tolerate any actions that impede the entrance or exit of patients or staff,” CPS said in the statement.
“We are working with the protest organizers to lay out these expectations and we are also liaising with AHS as well as staff at the Foothills."
Alberta Health Services, meanwhile, said it was "extremely disappointed" with the protests.
"We have no tolerance for intimidation or bullying of our patients, AHS staff or physicians, and find such behaviour abhorrent," AHS said in a statement to CTV.
"We are working closely with police and AHS Protective Services to ensure the safety of patients, physicians and staff.
"Additional Protective Services staff will be at the impacted hospitals to monitor the protests and respond as needed, including supporting staff and patients entering and exiting the facilities."
AHS said fencing has been put up to protect patients, staff and physicians.
"Our healthcare workers are doing all they can to care for Albertans, and they deserve the utmost respect and support.
'BLOCKING AN AMBULANCE IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT PEACEFUL PROTEST': KENNEY
Premier Jason Kenney said the right to peaceful protest is not without limits.
In a statement, Kenney said Monday's protests must in no way obstruct the operations of hospital, including the arrival and departure of emergency vehicles and workers.
"Blocking an ambulance is most definitely not peaceful protest," Kenney said.
“In Alberta, local law enforcement is fully empowered to enforce the law in a timely fashion, including the potential use of the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
With a UCP leadership review vote days away, a new poll shows Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stuck around 30 per cent
“While Canadians are entitled to peaceful protest, one can still question the appalling judgment of those protesting across the country today.
"It is outrageous that a small minority feel it’s appropriate to protest at hospitals during the pandemic while our health-care workers continue to tirelessly battle the global menace of COVID-19.”
"If you oppose masking, vaccinations, or any other measures taken to prevent COVID-19 transmission, that is your right, but to target healthcare workers with anger and vitriol is not acceptable, particularly now," AHS said.Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu tweeted his opposition to the protests, adding he expects police to intervene, if necessary.
"All Canadians have the right to peaceful protest, but I cannot disagree more strongly with those protesting at hospitals today," said Madu.
"I trust law enforcement will take all necessary action to ensure healthcare operations are in no way impeded, up to and including potential use of the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act."
Protests were also scheduled to take place in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.