‘They’re not indestructible,’ SUN president says as nurses face hospital protests

The union representing Saskatchewan’s nurses would welcome action from the province to keep protesters a certain distance from health care facilities.

There have been protests outside hospitals across Canada and Tracy Zambory, president of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses says health care workers have been targets of scorn.

“They have people that are hurling insults, saying awful things and doing cruel things up to and including (spitting) on them,” Zambory said.

She supports the idea, which was raised by the Saskatchewan NDP last week. The party is urging the government to use a public health order to create “safe zones” outside hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

“We support people’s ability to protest. It’s so great we live in a democracy but along with the right, also comes with responsibility,” Zambory said.

Such laws are not unprecedented. There are “bubble zone” laws to protect abortion access in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec. Court injunctions have also created bubble zones in Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick.

Aaron Fox, a lawyer based in Regina, says in Canada, people’s rights are rightly limited when they start to infringe on those of others.

“The charter protects the right to go out and protest, but it doesn’t give you the absolute right to go out there and interfere with somebody’s rights, no matter what your cause is,” Fox said.

“If you could show that there are threats being made, if you could show that there is harassment, if you could show the people are having a difficult time getting to their employment, leaving their employment, patients are being affected … I think a court or a police agency would take action.”

Fox says the Criminal Code is meant to outlaw activities like uttering threats or criminal harassment. However, the NDP says safe zones would protect patients and workers from intimidation and prevent tensions from escalating to that point.

“We shouldn’t have to get to the point where the police have to be laying charges because (those against public health measures) shouldn’t be here protesting to begin with,” said Nicole Sarauer, justice critic last week.

Zambory says people are coming to hospitals because they are sick or in distress. It’s hard enough.

“They need protection, just like the people who are coming in to give them that life-altering, life-saving care. They also require protection,” she said.

“Registered nurses will continue to show up and they’re going to do their jobs to the best of their ability. But they’re not indestructible. Everybody has feelings and pride in what they do. And it is very difficult to have people holler at you, call you a killer, say some of the worst things ever without any consequence.”