Alberta bans anti-vaccination protests, all other demonstrations outside health-care facilities<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
CBC News \u00b7 Posted: Sep 28, 2021 11:16 AM MT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anti-vaccination protests and all other demonstrations outside hospitals will be banned in a move to make Alberta health-care facilities safer for staff, patients and families, Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But no new restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were announced, despite recent calls from medical professionals to enact “fire-breaker” measures to protect the struggling health-care system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenney told a news conference the province is still monitoring the impact of public health measures that went into effect on Sept. 20. He said unvaccinated Albertans who are currently filling up hospitals beds would be unlikely to comply with any new measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is a paradox and there’s no easy solution to it,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, the regulations of the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act have been amended to ensure that health-care facilities are subject to the same legal protection as railways, highways and pipelines, carrying punishments for trespassing, interfering with operations and construction or causing damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH | Kenney says unvaccinated unlikely to comply with new measures<\/strong><\/em>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 7 hours ago1:37Asked whether Alberta would introduce stricter COVID-19 rules, Premier Jason Kenney says now is not the time. 1:37<\/p>\n\n\n\n The measure is in response to protests two weeks ago across the country by anti-vaccination groups, Kenney said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Recently, Albertans watched anti-vaccine protesters stand in front of our hospitals, hurling mistruths and misinformation about our health-care system, our doctors and our nurses,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “People were rightly shocked to see this totally inappropriate behaviour from a vocal minority.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenney and Justice Minister Kaycee Madu reiterated that the intention was not to interfere with any individual’s constitutional right to lawful protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Albertans must have the ability to access health care when they need it and health-care professionals must have the ability to do their work free from interference,” Madu said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Free Speech the Latest Casualty in Kim Jong Kenney’s Alberta Alberta bans anti-vaccination protests, all other demonstrations outside health-care facilities CBC News \u00b7 Posted: Sep 28, 2021 11:16 AM MT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago Anti-vaccination protests and all … Continue reading ![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.6029616.1632873382!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/16x9_780\/jason-kenney-deena-hinshaw.jpg\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/thumbnails.cbc.ca\/maven_legacy\/thumbnails\/739\/611\/edm-kenney-nonewmeasures-web-sept28_7000kbps_1280x720_1953916995744.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*)
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nKenney says unvaccinated unlikely to comply with widespread restrictions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n