Not acceptable to interrupt vital, life-saving services to exercise the right to protest: Malcolmson
British Columbia’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions is condemning the protests held outside hospitals that caused disruptions to health-care services, and is rolling out new supports for health-care workers to access.
Sheila Malcolmson released a statement Monday, saying “it is not acceptable to interrupt vital, life-saving services to exercise the right to protest, and it’s taking a toll on care providers’ mental health.”
The statement said care providers deserve a tremendous amount of respect and support, as they have been at the forefront of B.C.’s health crises every day, taking care of friends, families and neighbours who are sick, stressed and scared.
Not only have care workers been worried about bringing COVID-19 into the workplace or back home to their families this past 18 months, they’ve also had to deal with the ongoing drug poisoning crises, the extreme weather and heat events this summer, and the confirmation of unmarked graves at former Indian residential school sites, which have all contributed to personal stress and heavy emotional weight on the care providers.











