Protesters against COVID-19 restrictions, vaccines gather outside Royal Alexandra Hospital
A group protesting COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines crowded outside Edmonton’s largest hospital Monday afternoon despite officials warning them not to obstruct health care operations.
Approximately 150 protesters gathered near the front steps of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, held anti-vaccine signs and challenged health care staff about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Counter-protesters stood across the street, reminding those on the steps of the hospital that they were blocking access to a health care facility.
Premier Jason Kenney and Mayor Don Iveson expressed concerns about the protest and encouraged enforcement if services are disrupted.
"Today’s protests must in no way obstruct the important operations of our hospitals, 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."
Iveson and the Edmonton Police Service, which will attend the protest, said disruptions will not be tolerated.
More hospital protests are expected across Canada on Monday.
NURSE EXCHANGES WITH PROTESTER
Benita Pedersen, an organizer of the rally, said the location was chosen to ensure their message was heard.
“In order for us to be effective in making our voices heard, we had to move to a location where we were sure to be noticed,” Pedersen said.
Pedersen challenged a nurse leaving the hospital saying, “Any system that is forcing employees to take a vaccine is wrong. That’s a form of tyranny.”
“No, it isn’t,” responded Rebecca Riches, a nurse working on a COVID-19 floor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
“If you see what we are dealing with in there, you would understand,” Riches said.
“It is bad,” she added. “Don’t tell me it’s not as bad as it is.”
The counter-protesters across the street said they felt it was important to show healthcare workers their support.
“The vast majority of Canadians support the healthcare system,” one counter-protester said. “They want everyone to get vaccinated. It’s not a question of choice. It’s a question of supporting the community.”
“Healthcare workers are stressed,” said Albert Knobbs, another counter-protester, president and founder of the Alberta Activist Collective. “Right now morale is crucial.
“None of us want to be here,” he added, “(but) these protests are unacceptable.”
A photo taken prior to the scheduled start of the protest at the Royal Alexandra Hospital on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 (CTV News Edmonton/John Hanson)
HEALTH CARE STAFF ‘DEEPLY TROUBLED’
The union representing nurses and allied health care workers in Alberta says that while it recognizes Canadians' right to peacefully protest, physically blocking access to facilities to “hamper access” to care is concerning.
The United Nurses of Alberta said in a statement that it is in no way affiliated with the Canadian Frontline Nurses protest group and that it denounces the protests.
“UNA is a union representing Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied health care workers in Alberta,” the group said. “It has a democratic structure and duly elected officials.
“Throughout the pandemic, UNA has stood consistently on the side of science. We have advocated for evidence-informed public health measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 such as social distancing, masking, and vaccination.
“It is demoralizing for nurses and other health care workers risking burnout and COVID-19 infection in hospitals and other health care settings to see people who oppose vaccination efforts interfere with access to health care facilities.”
In addition, the UNA says it is “deeply troubled” that “even a few” workers have participated in these protests.
“The few health care workers involved in these anti-vaccination protests take attention away from the important vaccination efforts by nurses and other health care workers across Canada,” the union said.
Heather Smith, UNA president, called the protests outside health facilities as “insensitive” and questioned the “appropriateness” of them happening.
“Health care workers for the past 18 months have risked a whole lot and put off a whole lot, in terms of personal things,” Smith said in an interview with CTV News Edmonton. “Many of those people inside (the hospitals) will actually be caring for COVID positive patients.
“Today in Alberta is not the time to be (protesting) in a public way that could in fact make a horrible, horrible situation even worse.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.