Gov’t to legislate safe access zones for teachers, students

Teachers, staff and students in Saskatchewan soon could be getting the same protection from COVID-related protests as health-care workers and hospital patients.

On Monday, the provincial government said it was introducing legislation aimed at creating safe access zones for people going into and coming out of schools.

The zones would keep protesters at least 50 metres away from kids aged five to 11 who are getting a COVID vaccination.

A similar piece of legislation was created to protect people going into hospitals from protesters.

Health Minister Paul Merriman said it’s too bad the legislation involving schools is required.

“But we have to because we need to protect our students,” he said. “Students shouldn’t have to have people protesting up and down their halls. That’s just ridiculous.”

Merriman noted schools requested the legislation after having already seen protests at and in schools.

“That’s not conducive for anybody and no kid should have to be subjected to that as a protest in their school, not in our province,” he said. “We want to make sure that it’s extremely similar to existing legislation for hospitals.”

Merriman said the legislation was considered when the government brought in the hospitals legislation.

“We wanted to make sure that the schools had some opportunity to be able to discuss this with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and other school boards and valued partners,” Merriman said.

The safe zones are designed to prevent protests on sidewalks at schools “that could potentially cause obstructions, delays or harassment for people entering and leaving school properties,” according to a media release.

The zones could be extended to up to 150 metres if required.

Lawful labour picketing will be permitted within the safe zones. The provisions allowing the zones will automatically expire two years after they come into force.