Anti-vaccine protesters gather outside Toronto General Hospital as part of nationwide action
A group of anti-vaccine protesters gathered outside one of Toronto's busiest hospitals Monday after being warned not to harass or obstruct health-care workers.
An organization that calls themselves the Canadian Frontline Nurses orchestrated protests against vaccine certificates in all 10 provinces, including outside Toronto General Hospital.
Organizers said they wanted to take a stand against what they called "tyrannical measures and government overreach."
On Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory said police would be "keeping a very close eye on these demonstrations" to ensure they don't obstruct any hospital operations.
Police said officers remained at the hospital to "remind the crowd of expected behaviour." There were no reports of any hospital staff or patients being obstructed, police said in a tweet published Monday evening. As well, there were no reports of arrests or injuries related to the demonstration.
Tory said earlier on Monday he supported the police in "taking whatever action is necessary" to protect people seeking medical care and health-care workers.
Protests take place outside a hospital in Toronto on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
"I just find it completely unacceptable," Tory said. "It's just inconceivable that anyone could be that irresponsible or that misdirected."
Premier Doug Ford also voiced his opinion about the protests, calling them "selfish, cowardly and reckless."
"Our health-care workers have sacrificed so much to keep us all safe during this pandemic," Ford tweeted Sunday. "They don't deserve this kind of treatment — not now, not ever. Leave our health care workers alone."
Meanwhile, The Ontario Nurses’ Association (RNAO) and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) issued a joint statement on Sunday calling for “safe zones” to be designated around hospitals.
"We respect democracy and the rights of people to protest but these must not be held anywhere where they block entry and exit to health-care facilities," the statement said. "The RNAO and OMA also say charges must be pressed against anyone engaging in harassment, aggression or hate speech, if these protests take place."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has also called for safe zones to be declared around hospitals.
"Cancer patients and exhausted health care heroes deserve to be protected from harassment,” Horwath tweeted Monday. "My safety zone bill would make this targeted intimidation a provincial offence."
Ontario’s vaccine certificate program is set to launch on Sept. 22.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
'Ninja,' Twitch's biggest streamer, is diagnosed with skin cancer
American gamer and Twitch superstar, Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, revealed he was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Here's what Trudeau says the upcoming federal budget will offer renters
The federal government will create a new 'Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights,' which would require landlords to disclose their properties' rental price history to prospective tenants.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.