Health-care workers announce counter protest to convoy in Toronto
CTV
A planned trucker protest in Toronto this weekend against vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions has prompted concerned health-care workers to organize a counter protest.
Organizers said they want to "establish a street presence during the convoy protest" to send a message that "access to health care should never be compromised."
"We want to ensure that health-care services remain available to anyone who needs them and to defend the right of health-care workers to show up for work in their hospitals and clinics free of harassment. We want to keep our streets open so that sick people can safely get the help they want and to reassure them that health-care workers stand with them," they said.
The truckers' protest is expected to be held at Queen's Park, near many of the city's busiest hospitals. On Friday, Toronto police closed a portion of University Avenue to protect Hospital Row.
Ahead of the protest, hospitals sent out memos to their staff on their plans in preparation for the protest, with some closing a number of services and rescheduling appointments. Some were also told not to wear any clothing that would identify them as health-care workers when they report for work.
