The bullying of public health officials in Canada must stop immediately. That’s the word from the Canadian Medical Association after Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer, Doctor Saqib Shahab found his home picketed by a group of protestors in Regina last weekend. The same thing has happened to Quebec’s National Public Health Officer.

The CMA says, since the beginning of the pandemic, this worrying phenomenon has escalated. What began as online harassment has evolved into threats and in-person intimidation.

CMA President, Doctor Ann Collins says, we must speak out against such intimidation, whether online or in-person, and urge those responsible for overseeing social media platforms and law enforcement bodies to put an end to this highly alarming conduct.

Peaceful protests are an important feature of our democracy, but, she says, these recent demonstrations have crossed a crucial line between free speech and willful intimidation.