OTTAWA -- A re-elected Liberal government would make it a criminal offence to block access to buildings that provide health-care services as well as threaten or intimidate those that work there.
Speaking in Vancouver on Monday, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said it鈥檚 鈥渘ot OK鈥� that hospitals across the country are having to put up barricades to protect against anti-vaccination protests.
鈥淭o know that a nurse, going into a late shift, crossing a parking lot, might be afraid that there鈥檚 going to be someone there to spit on her or shout obscenities at her 鈥� that鈥檚 not OK,鈥� Trudeau said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate really, that we have to get to this point where we have to point out that that鈥檚 not something that should be done.鈥�
Several protests were scheduled for Monday at hospitals across Canada to raise issue with public health measures put in place to curb COVID-19 spread, including proof-of-vaccination documentation.
A group called Canadian Frontline Nurses sought to rally supporters for a 鈥渟ilent vigil to honour those affected by measures put in place over the last year an a half.鈥�
They say they are taking a stand to 鈥渢yrannical measures and government overreach.鈥�
Provincial and municipal politicians have issued warnings about the protests.
As highlighted in their platform, the Liberals would also table legislation to ensure that businesses and organizations that decide to require proof-of-vaccination from employees or customers 鈥渃an do so without fear or legal challenge.鈥�
Conservative Leader Erin O鈥橳oole condemned any harassment outside hospitals on Monday.
鈥淭his harassment of our frontline nurses, doctors, is completely unacceptable. We all owe a huge debt of thanks to our frontlines, to those nurses, to the folks in our hospitals. I appreciate and respect them,鈥� he said.
The party鈥檚 platform states that a Conservative government would pass the 鈥淐ritical Infrastructure Protection Act鈥� to prevent protestors from blocking key infrastructure. It makes specific reference to last year鈥檚 Wet'suwet'en rail blockades.
鈥淧eaceful protest is a fundamental right in Canada, but respect for the rule of law means that illegal blockades that shut down critical infrastructure, threaten access to vital supplies, or endanger lives cannot be tolerated,鈥� the document reads.
O鈥橳oole said he has 鈥済reat faith鈥� in local law enforcement to make sure people can access services.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said there is 鈥渘o space at all鈥� for protests that threaten health-care workers or patients.
鈥淚t is wrong, it is not the place for protests,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat we are doing at the federal level to achieve this goal is that we would make it an aggravating element of a sentence if someone was in any way threatening a health-care worker, threatening patients, impeding their ability to access care.鈥�
The Liberals鈥� campaign pledge would include protections around hospitals, vaccine clinics, testing centres, pharmacies and abortion clinics.
Trudeau said there are already provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada that prevent the intimidation of journalists or those working in the justice system. He said it鈥檚 time to include health-care workers under that umbrella.
鈥淲e think that these people deserve our highest level of protection because they have done so much for all of us over these past 18 months,鈥� he said.
Trudeau appears to be referencing Section 423.1 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits any 鈥渃onduct with the intent to provoke a state of fear鈥� that impede the administration of criminal justice, impede a justice system participant from conducting their duties or impede a journalist 鈥渋n the transmission to the public of information in relation to a criminal organization.鈥�
Daniel Brown, lead counsel at Daniel Brown Law LLP in Toronto, believes some of Monday鈥檚 protests could already constitute mischief, as the offence includes anyone who willfully 鈥渙bstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property鈥� or 鈥渙bstructs, interrupts or interferes with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.鈥�
鈥淭he Criminal Code already prevents protesters from blocking essential services such as hospitals or other property and prevents protesters from blocking individuals access to those services,鈥� Brown wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca.
Brown also mentions that these protests may have prevented people from accessing life-saving treatment, the protesters could also face a separate charge of criminal mischief that endangers someone鈥檚 life.
鈥淎 person guilty of this offence can receive up to life in prison,鈥� he said.
鈥淔or anyone who commits mischief to property, a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail is available. It would be unlikely that someone engaged in this behaviour for the first time would receive a jail sentence as a consequence but could receive a criminal record and a court order preventing them attending at the hospital.鈥�
Meanwhile, health-care workers have called on the protesters to take their message to provincial and federal legislatures.
鈥淪tay away from patients, stay away from health-care workers, we don鈥檛 want to see you there, we don鈥檛 want to hear you there. Speak to the people who can make decisions and make policy changes if you don鈥檛 like them but leave us alone,鈥� Dr. Michael Warner, intensive care unit physician at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, told CTV News Channel on Monday.
With files from CTVNews.ca Writer Ben Cousins
