Quebec swiftly passes new bill to prohibit anti-vaccine protests near schools, hospitals
After just a few hours of debate, Quebec's National Assembly voted unanimously Thursday evening to pass a new bill that would prohibit anti-vaccine protesters from demonstrating near schools, daycares, hospitals, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites -- an offence punishable by a fine of up to $12,000.
Bill 105 was only tabled Thursday morning by the province's public safety minister, Geneviève Guilbault, but it took little time for MNAs to debate the new bill that will give police new powers to fine people for protesting within 50 metres 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.
Fines could be doubled for repeat offenders.
The bill also bans organizing or inciting people to hold such protests. Bill 105 resembles a similar law passed in Quebec in 2016, which banned protests within 50 metres of abortion clinics.
Quebec leaders said the new measure would be temporary and is designed that way. At the request of the Conservatives, the measures in the bill will expire in 30 days, but allow for the government to extend them for an additional 30 days.
Following a recommendation from Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy, the bill will also cover adult education centres as well as CEGEPs.
The bill now clarifies that it will not apply to workers, who, for example, want to protest for better working conditions outside their hospital.
On the other hand, parents who want to hold a protest for better ventilation outside their child's school will be prohibited from doing so, since it is related to COVID-19, Guilbault said. They will have to do so outside the 50-metre perimeter.
Shortly after Bill 105 was adopted, the public safety minister tweeted, "We must protect Quebecers, and we still do so today. Thank you to the oppositions for their collaboration."
CONCERNS OVER THE BILL'S REACH
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.
Independent MNA Claire Samson, who joined the PCQ, cautioned, though, that she thought the government was trying to "limit the freedom of expression of some citizens."
"This is not a small matter," she said. "Are we going to have a special bill every week to target a group of protesters?"
Despite her misgivings, Samson gave her consent to the government at all stages of the process, but not without questioning the government's motives.
“As a legislator, it’s our responsibility to ask questions," she said Thursday.
'THIS IS A RUSHED BILL'
Samson isn't the only one who has reservations about the bill. 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.
“This is a rushed bill, it’s coming in really quickly,” she told CTV News before the bill had been passed.
“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 Thursday's press conference, the premier defended the bill and told reporters "it's the right time" to bring in this special measure.
He says limiting people’s ability to protest isn’t something the government takes lightly.
“It’s never easy to say, ‘You cannot protest, you cannot go on the street,’” he said. “We wanted to do it correctly.”
--With files from CTV's Matt Grillo and The Canadian Press
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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.