Security ramps up at Beltline urgent care centre ahead of Saturday protest, unions say

Unions representing health-care workers say they are working with Alberta Health Services to increase security measures at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary, saying centre workers are being harassed by anti-pandemic restriction protestors.

Bobby-Joe Borodey, vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees — which represents 55,000 health-care workers — says protestors have previously blocked the ambulance bay, harassed workers and patients accessing the centre, banged on windows and blocked roads in the area.

In an email release, Borodey says these protests have been going on for weeks near the centre, but things have gotten worse since the truck blockades started.

"Our members say they are scared when walking into the centre to start work, when walking to their cars parked outside after their shifts, or to catch buses and transit home."

Mike Parker, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, a union representing 28,000 health-care workers, called on Premier Jason Kenney to take action to protect health-care workers.

Constituents feel unsafe going to centre, says city councillor

Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott says people living in the area and health-care workers have also contacted him about harassment they have faced. 

"I hear quite often from constituents about they just don't feel safe going to Chumir, especially on weekends, with what we've seen through the protest crowd," he said. 

"That's unacceptable. Especially, given what Chumir is for people and how safe it needs to be for people to actually be ok to get medical service."

Walcott says there are conversations being had about what steps city council can take, however there is nothing formally planned at the moment.

AUPE says there will be extra security in place in anticipation of another protest happening at Central Memorial Park on Saturday. There will be extra staff on hand from AHS's protective services to walk union members to their cars if they park outside the facility.

AHS confirmed to CBC News that their workplace health and safety department has heard concerns from staff at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centrre regarding the protests and they are working with Calgary Police Service to "ensure the ongoing safety of staff."

A poster circulating on social media about the protest on Saturday afternoon says that it will be a "peaceful rally" in support of trucker convoys in Ottawa and Coutts, Alta.

Calgary Police Service say they are aware of the protest planned at Central Memorial Park.

"Our primary function is to ensure public and officer safety. We will monitor and respond accordingly," said a police spokesperson.

Protestors are calling for all pandemic health restrictions to be dropped. 

Premier Jason Kenney announced during a Facebook Live on Thursday evening that the government's COVID cabinet committee would meet early next week and then announce a plan for removing all public health restrictions, beginning with the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) soon.

However, some health experts have urged Albertans to remain cautious as the number of daily COVID-related deaths remain in the double digits.