Anti-maskers pledge more protests despite pleas from Kenney

Despite the threat of fines and an appeal from Premier Jason Kenney that they halt their large gatherings, opponents of COVID-19 restrictions are vowing provincewide protests this weekend.

One organizer said the movement has gained momentum and he expects a larger turnout than previous events that have drawn fines.

In a virtual town hall Thursday evening, Kenney condemned narratives that paint the COVID-19 crisis as fake. And, he implored activists opposed to restrictions imposed by his government to abandon large gatherings in favour of other protest forms.

“Go ahead, call me a dictator but send me emails; organize online petitions or a safe protest that's socially distanced,” said Kenney.

“You don't have the luxury of increasing the chances of transmission ... If you think this is a hoax, talk to my friend who spent nearly two months in ICU fighting for his life or speak to those who have lost loved ones.”

Kenney said while government measures such as limiting outdoor gatherings to 10 people and banning private indoor gatherings violate constitutional rights, the restrictions are legally and morally defensible.

“I do believe in order to avoid the catastrophic situation from the pandemic, certain abridgements of those rights and freedoms can be reasonably justified in a free and democratic society,” said Kenney.

He and physicians have warned repeatedly that sharply rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations threaten to overwhelm the province's health-care system.

Nonetheless, some of the premier's critics contend he's refused to impose a provincewide mandatory mask edict out of fear of a backlash and that has fuelled the resistance to health orders.

In a statement sent by an organizer of the Walk for Freedom, its writer said there would be protests in several Alberta cities this weekend, including at Calgary's city hall and at the legislature building in Edmonton.

The statement said the movement is growing and sets an example for the rest of the country.

“Alberta is rapidly becoming a beacon of freedom in Canada, with rallies happening across the province every week now,” it stated.

“It's time for Alberta to show the world that we are the creators of our own destiny.”

The statement said that although city police have issued six tickets to protest organizers, which it called “unconstitutional,” the group sympathizes with officers in “a tough position.”

The organizer also said protesters would seek to social distance but added “there is a lack of feasibility … considering the expected turnout.”

Kenney's suggestion that protesters rely on online or written tactics was rejected as being less effective than more visible demonstrations.

The group's statement also said a speaker at the Calgary rally would be the head of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), John Carpay, whose group says it's launching a constitutional challenge against Alberta's COVID-19 restrictions.

The JCCF and protesters contend the restrictions unnecessarily infringe on civil liberties.

As cases in the province surge, Alberta's chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw implored residents to stay home or to social distance this weekend.

On Thursday, the heads of the city's bylaw and police departments said issuing tickets would continue if those protests resumed.