There's nothing to be proud of for limiting anti-vaccine protests in Quebec, says opposition critic
Quebec should not be proud of passing a bill banning any demonstration related to COVID-19 within 50 meters of thousands of establishments, said opposition critic Andrés Fontecilla on Friday.
"To say that it is a glorious day for Quebec democracy because we restrict a fundamental right, I will not go that far," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The party's public security critic reflected on what has been described by the François Legault government as a "great day" after Bill 105 unanimously passed in the National Assembly Thursday.
The new bill temporarily bans anti-vaccine protesters from demonstrating too close to daycares, schools, CEGEPs and all health and social service institutions, including COVID-19 screening and vaccination clinics.
It also allows police to impose stiff fines on anyone who organizes, incites or participates in an anti-vaccine demonstration within 50 metres of these locations.
Fontecilla called the law a "security and punitive overkill."
"Yes, protecting our children, staff ... or vulnerable people is something that must be done ... but there was a kind of triumphalism that was going on."
INTERNAL DEBATES WITHIN QS
Fontecilla admits that Bill 105 has been the subject of heated debate within his own party since Premier Legault announced he would table it.
He says the party would have preferred the bill to only regulate demonstrations that aim to dissuade a person from being vaccinated against COVID-19 or from respecting sanitary measures.
"Did we act too quickly?" asked Fontecilla. "That's for history to say. I think we could have discussed at greater length certain elements of this law."
He says he recognizes that there was an "urgent need to act" to prevent children, in particular, from being intimidated by conspiracy theorists at lunch time.
However, Fontecilla said he was "angry" that the law included CEGEPs, where older students "are perfectly capable of being exposed to political debate and making informed decisions."
Bill 105 was passed unanimously in the National Assembly, though Independent MNA Claire Samson, who joined the Conservative Party of Quebec, abstained from voting.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 23, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.