Anti-vax protestors are seen outside Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Following numerous anti-vaccine protests at schools, hospitals and, most recently, cenotaphs in the Thompson and Okanagan regions, the province has introduced legislation to protect workers, students and patients throughout B.C.

The legislation has not yet passed, but when it is it will create 20-metre zones where people can be fined or jailed for impeding access or trying to intimidate people at those facilities.

“This is the first legislative session since the incidents took place,” Attorney General David Eby said at a news briefing today, Nov. 15, in response to a question about why it has taken so long to bring in such legislation after numerous incidents in the Thompson and Okanagan regions dating back many months.

READ MORE: Still no charges for Kelowna man who released racist tirade against security guard

“Our team worked very hard to bring this legislation forward and make sure we are satisfying a number of different concerns,” Eby said. “The urgency, obviously, that all of us share in ensuring the protection and access to schools and hospitals and, also, a shared desire to ensure we’re protecting, as best as possible, the rights and freedoms of all British Columbians.”

The protective zones don’t cover things like the cenotaphs where ceremonies were disrupted in Kelowna and Kamloops Remembrance Day services last week.

READ MORE: Unofficial Kamloops Remembrance Day event turned into anti-vax rally

The focus is on protecting essential services like health care and education but the new rules could be expended both to other facilities and to larger areas if needed, Eby said.

Violators can be fined up to $2,000 and/or arrested and jailed up to six months.

While it will still be up to individual police officers to determine whether to enforce the legislation, it gives them another tool, along with things like mischief or interfering with the use of property, Eby said.

Kelowna RCMP are looking at a rarely used section of the Criminal Code to possibly lay charges in the Remembrance Day incident.

READ MORE: Disruption of Kelowna Remembrance Day event could be criminal

Eby noted the new legislation will not create a Criminal Code offence, which can only be done by the federal government. This is provincial legislation.

The restrictions will apply to K to 12 schools, hospitals, vaccine sites and COVID test centres.

“We recognize that free speech is an important right,” Eby said. “But there is no right to intimidate health care workers, patients, students, teachers and staff who are already stressed and pressured."

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