Alberta criminalizes hospital protests, fines start at $1,000

Sep 28, 2021 | 3:54 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Government is taking steps that it says will keep healthcare workers and patients safe.

Premier Jason Kenney says there have been several anti-vaccination protests outside of healthcare facilities across the province, many of which have impeded the abilities of both those providing and receiving care.

The province will be adding hospitals and other health facilities to 2020’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Act, declaring these buildings as being essential infrastructure.

“Recent protests at hospitals have revealed the need to keep health-care workers safe and to make sure Albertans can receive critical care when they need it,” says Kenney. “All Canadians have the right to peaceful protest, but blocking ambulances and preventing people from getting treatment is definitely not peaceful. Law enforcement is now fully empowered to make sure hospitals and health facilities are safe.”

The act builds on existing trespassing laws to create offences for trespassing on, destroying, damaging, and obstructing the use or operation of any essential infrastructure.

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The Premier adds that the healthcare system is already under assault by COVID-19 to a level we have never seen before.

Provincially, ICU capacity is at 86 per cent, which is after 197 surge spaces were recently added. Without that, it would be around 184 per cent capacity.

North Zone: 100% capacity
Central Zone, 89% capacity
Edmonton Zone, 89% capacity
Calgary Zone, 82% capacity
South Zone, 81% capacity

Penalties consist of:

For individuals, a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to $10,000 and $25,000 for first and subsequent offences respectively or a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
For corporations, a minimum fine of $10,000 and up to $200,000.

by David Opinko