Today the province says it plans to take action against those who impede the ability of other Albertans to access healthcare facilities. Justice Minister and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu spoke specifically of those who blocked entrances to hospitals and other healthcare facilities during recent anti-vaccine protests.
Madu says those who hamper anyone’s ability to access these healthcare facilities must be stopped, adding that the province passed the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act in 2020 to protect critical infrastructure. Madu said Tuesday, through this regulation hospitals and healthcare facilities will be added to the list of critical infrastructure.
“We are making sure that these facilities must receive the same kind of protection. And those who hamper anyone’s ability to access these healthcare facilities must be stopped,” he said, adding, “This is another tool for law enforcement officers to ensure health care workers can do the work we are so grateful for.”
Madu did not specify what type of enforcement would be brought upon these individuals.
He clarified that this regulation is not about forbidding anyone’s constitutional right to protest. “This is about ensuring that people protesting do not impede access to healthcare, or staff that make these facilities work.”