SHARE ON: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anti-vax protesters who picket outside hospitals, schools, daycares or COVID-19 test and vaccine sites could face a heavy fine under the terms of a bill tabled Thursday by the Quebec government.
The bill, which Premier François Legault had said earlier this week was in the works, allows police to issue fines of up to 12,000 to anyone protesting within 50 metres of any of those places, depending on their behaviour.
Fines of 1,000 to 6,000 would apply to anyone protesting too close to those places over COVID-19 health rules or vaccination. That includes mobile clinics.
Fines from 2,000 to 12,000 could be slapped on anyone who intimidates or threatens people coming or leaving from those sites, or trying to access services there.
The bill also bans organizing or inciting people to hold protests like this, and it grants Superior Court judges the ability to issue an injunction to prevent them.
Quebec leaders said the measure would be temporary and is designed that way -- though it has no specific end date.
If passed, the law could be in effect until the government officially ends the state of health emergency first declared in March 2020.
LONE MNA STILL UNSURE, WANTS CLEAR EXPIRY DATE
Legault said this week that the government had lost patience with anti-vax protests of this kind, after several instances of picketing outside Montreal-area schools and at least one outside a hospital.
The aim is to pass the bill quickly, he said. To do so, it would need unanimous approval from all provincial politicians, but its not clear that will happen -- the decision could end up hinging on a single MNA who says shes just not sure.
On Wednesday, all of Quebecs major parties said they supported the measure, but the legislature has a single Conservative MNA who crossed the floor this summer from the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ).
Claire Samson voted in favour of tabling the bill on Thursday, but hasnt said if shell vote to pass it.
She said Thursday that she doesnt like that there is no clear end date on the bill and shed prefer a clear expiration date of 30 days.
“As a legislator, it’s our responsibility to ask questions, Samson, who represents Iberville, said Thursday.
“How long will this bill apply? They say as long as the emergency status is on. Well, we have no idea how long this is going to last. I’m not going to give them a green card forever.”
Earlier this week, Samson said she was concerned the bill could limit other kinds of protests, such as nurses unions who want to picket near a hospital over labour issues.
However, the bill includes wording to specify that the protests it seeks to ban only relate to COVID-19 public health rules and recommendations.
THIS IS A RUSHED BILL
Samson isnt the only one who has reservations about the proposed law. Legal experts also wonder if the bill covers too much ground.
Pearl Eliadis, a human rights lawyer based in Montreal, said while she appreciates the intent of the bill, she said she believes it casts too wide of a net, partly because of how many institutions are impacted by it and that it includes a prohibition on anyone seeking an injunction to challenge the law.
“This is a rushed bill, it’s coming in really quickly,” she told CTV News
“I hope the opposition will, on the one hand, respect our collective will to protect children and to make sure people can access education and health-care facilities without harassment, without intimidation .... but at the same time, make sure you’re not capturing other forms of legitimate, democratic public protest.”
During Thursdays press conference, the premier defended the bill and told reporters its the right time to bring in this special measure.
He says limiting people’s ability to protest isn’t something the government takes lightly, adding that he hopes the other parties will support the bill.
“It’s never easy to say, ‘You cannot protest, you cannot go on the street,’” he said. “We wanted to do it correctly.”
Correction:
An earlier version of this article stated the upper limit for a fine was 10,000, but it is 12,000. The article has been corrected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 pm |
2 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 27 KM/H
GUSTING TO 43 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 pm |
2 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 28 KM/H
GUSTING TO 48 KM/H |
|
|
|
7 pm |
2 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 27 KM/H
GUSTING TO 48 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 pm |
1 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 26 KM/H
GUSTING TO 47 KM/H |
|
|
|
9 pm |
1 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 25 KM/H
GUSTING TO 46 KM/H |
|
|
|
10 pm |
0 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: SE 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 43 KM/H |
|
|
|
11 pm |
-1 ℃ |
LIGHT SNOW |
WIND: SE 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 am |
-2 ℃ |
SNOW |
WIND: SE 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 2 ℃
LOW OF -7 ℃ |
LIGHT SNOW |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -4 ℃ |
SNOW |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF -1 ℃
LOW OF -7 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 0 ℃
LOW OF -8 ℃ |
FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 6 ℃
LOW OF -5 ℃ |
BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 11 ℃
LOW OF 0 ℃ |
BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 18 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 11 ℃
LOW OF 3 ℃ |
OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Save up to 40% with Canadian Tires Early Spring Super Sale. |
|
Whether youre gearing up for outdoor adventures, refreshing your home, or sprucing up your vehicle, now is the perfect time to shop and save. |
|
Dont let these savings slip away – shop Canadian Tires Early Spring Super Sale! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE DRIVE AT FIVE WITH DJ SPINDERELLA BROUGHT TO YOU BY SMART BUY GLASSES 05:00 PM |
|
|
DR PHUNK FCKED UP 04:55 PM |
|
|
FLO RIDA GOOD GIRLS ON VACATION 04:52 PM |
|
|
SELENA GOMEZ HEAR MY THOUGHTS 04:49 PM |
|
|
DUKE AND JONES MOVE 04:46 PM |
|
|
LAURELL LOVE IT 04:43 PM |
|
|
KOHEN SIRENE 04:39 PM |
|
|
WALKER HAYES Y ALL LIFE 04:36 PM |
|
|
MARIE VAUNT DISCONNECT 04:27 PM |
|
|
YUNG BAE AWESOME WAYS 04:25 PM |
|
|