The CMA Just Called On Canadians To Stop 'Bullying' Canada's Public Health Officials

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is urging people to lay off Canada’s public health officials.

In a statement shared on January 27, the Canadian association said many health professionals are facing bullying, harassment, threats and in-person intimidation.

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The bullying of public health officials in Canada must stop immediately. Canadian Medical Association

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, this worrying phenomenon has escalated,” reads the notice.

“What began as online harassment has evolved into threats and in-person intimidation,” it continued.

The CMA said that some officials, such as Saskatchewan's chief medical officer of health and Quebec's National Public Health Officer, have experienced protests outside their homes.

While their statement acknowledged that protesting is “an important feature of our democracy,” it warned that some demonstrations “crossed a crucial line between free speech and willful intimidation.”

The association urged Canadians to stand up against such behaviour, describing it as a “highly alarming conduct.”

CMA President Dr. Ann Collins, who signed the message, concluded by saying that Canada’s health care workers have been operating under challenging conditions throughout the pandemic and therefore “deserve nothing short of our full appreciation and respect.”

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