NDP bill would prohibit COVID-19 protests outside hospitals, vaccine sites

The Manitoba NDP introduced a bill on Friday that would crack down on protests against COVID-19 measures and vaccine mandates — and Premier Kelvin Goertzen says it's worth further study.

Justice critic Nahanni Fontaine introduced the private members' bill Friday to create buffer zones around hospitals, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. 

Fontaine said the need for new legislation became apparent after hundreds of people protesting vaccine mandates swarmed Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg's largest hospital, on Sept. 1.

"I don't think any of us would have thought that we would have seen across the country co-ordinated protests in front of hospitals, targeting people accessing those health-care systems and targeting the people that are saving our lives, who are exhausted, who have not seen their families," the NDP MLA said.

If passed, the bill would establish buffer zones of 50 to 150 metres outside hospitals and COVID-19 testing, vaccination and treatment sites, where COVID-19-related protests, demonstrations or any act of disapproval would be barred.

Protest exclusion zones would also be created outside educational institutions, school sites, child-care centres and child care homes, as well as the residences of health-care workers and anyone else working at testing and vaccination sites. 

A first offence would carry a maximum penalty of either a $5,000 fine or six months imprisonment. The penalty for any subsequent offence would be a $10,000 fine or a year in custody.