Manitoba backbencher says bill would protect health-care providers, patients
A backbench member of Manitoba's governing Progressive Conservatives is proposing new limits on protests outside hospitals, clinics and schools.
Shannon Martin introduced a bill in the legislature Tuesday that would create "access zones" of between 50 and 150 metres around schools, hospitals and other areas where health care is provided.
If the bill becomes law, people could be fined or jailed for trying to prevent people in those zones from accessing health services. They would also be penalized for harassing health-care providers, either in-person or online.
"We need to ensure ... that any individual accessing legal services or providing legal medical services are protected from harassment or dissuasion," Martin said.
Bills put forward by backbench members or Opposition politicians -- called private members' bills -- can only become law with government support. Most do not get it, but Martin said he is optimistic his will.
Government house leader Kelvin Goertzen offered no guarantees.
"Like all the bills that come forward, you'll have to wait and see," he said, adding that there is limited time set aside to debate private members' bills before the legislature rises in November.
The Opposition New Democrats have put forward similar bills in the past without success, aimed primarily at people opposed to abortion and COVID-19 restrictions, but Martin said his is better because it would cover more facilities.
The bill protects the right to protest and only prevents actions that interfere with the provision of health services or harass and intimidate providers, he said.
The New Democrats said their bills were better because they also established buffer zones around the homes of health-care providers. That concern, Martin said, is covered by his proposed ban on harassment.
The NDP also questioned whether the Tories were serious about the issue.
"It's telling that the premier and her cabinet wouldn't sponsor this bill," NDP justice critic Nahanni Fontaine said. "This bill is just for show."
Similar restrictions have already been implemented in some other provinces. Ontario adopted a law in 2018 that banned protests within 50 metres of an abortion clinic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.