Quebec to table bill banning anti-vaccine protests outside hospitals, schools

Quebec’s premier will table a bill to clamp down on anti-COVID-19 vaccine protests in front of hospitals and schools.

François Legault told reporters at the National Assembly he will introduce the proposed legislation to his caucus Wednesday and then to the provincial legislature on Thursday.

“It makes no sense,” he said, referring to recent anti-vaccination protests.

Quebec’s three main opposition parties said earlier on Wednesday that it’s unacceptable that protesters are approaching children in an attempt to influence them against following pandemic-related health orders and getting vaccinated.

On Tuesday, the Liberals’ education critic said she had drafted her own bill and had sent it to the justice minister.

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All three parties say they are ready to work with the government to adopt the law quickly, with Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade saying they simply want protesters to leave children in peace.

“Leave them alone,” she said.

The bill comes after Legault said earlier this week he was willing to use “whatever is necessary” to prevent people from disrupting students attending school or health-care workers entering hospitals.

Demonstrations against vaccination and other health orders designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 have unfolded across the country in recent weeks — including in Montreal.

Earlier this month, small group of nurses protested COVID-19 measures outside of the McGill University Health Centre. Anti-vaccine protests have also taken place outside of schools in Montreal, including one in the city’s north end Tuesday.