Trudeau to protesters: ‘Isn’t there a hospital you should be going to bother right now?’ – National

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau on Monday appeared to mock angry protesters, who tried to skip a scheduled interview in British Columbia, by asking them “yes” a hospital that you should bother with right now?”

Trudeau was preparing to sit down with Global BC’s Neetu Garcha outside the Burnaby, BC broadcaster, as he continued his campaign, but protesters turned on loud music and shouted obscenities. from across the parking lot.

At one point, while the song “We Not Gonna Take It” was played through speakers on a trolley, one protester called Trudeau a communist and made derogatory comments about Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau .

“There’s no hospital you should bother with right now?” Trudeau responded, pulling down his mask to make sure the protesters could hear.

Protesters then urged Trudeau to move closer, appearing to challenge the Liberal leader to a fight.

The interview was later moved inside following discussions between Trudeau and his staff, Global News staff and the RCMP.

Trudeau was referring to the widespread protests against the government’s COVID-19 measures, including passport vaccines, that took place in hospitals across the country on Monday.

Some demonstrations showed that patients and medical staff had to be escorted into hospitals by police due to safety concerns.

Earlier, on Monday, Trudeau vowed to criminalize the blocking of hospitals and other healthcare facilities if his party is re-elected to form a government.

“It is not right that those charged with keeping us safe and alive during this pandemic are exposed to hatred, violence, fear and intimidation,” Trudeau said during a campaign. stop in Vancouver.

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Canada election: Trudeau says he would commit a crime to blockade hospitals, threaten health care workers

Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also condemned Monday’s protests. Singh has previously promised similar protections for healthcare workers and criminalized blocking access to health care.

The protests – follow similar protests at hospitals in recent weeks, protesting against public health policies being implemented by provincial political leaders, but instead it is aimed at doctors and nurses who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some workers called the protest a “mental blow” after more than a year of trying to save lives.

Trudeau was targeted by protesters throughout the campaign, at one point canceling one event due to safety concerns and delaying others. Last week, he was stoned by a protester, who has since been charged with a criminal offence.

The Liberal leader increasingly strongly opposes the protests, calling them an “anti-vaxxer mob” that he says will not affect his policies.

O’Toole, Singh and other party leaders have also condemned those protesters.

– with files from Amanda Connolly