Doctors group condemns protest at home of Sask. chief medical health officer

An association representing physicians in Saskatchewan is denouncing a protest staged outside the home of the province’s chief medical health officer while an Alberta man has been charged with making threats against the Northwest Territories top doctor.

Police in Regina say officers responded to a report of a demonstration at Dr. Saqib Shahab’s house on Saturday and stayed until a handful protesters left.

The Saskatchewan Medical Association issued a statement Monday calling out those who took part.

Its president said the demonstrators’ behaviour amounted to harassment and intimidation of the province’s top doctor, who is a member of the association.

“Bringing a protest to Dr. Shahab’s private residence is absolutely unacceptable, and the SMA condemns these actions,” association president Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz said in the statement.

Premier Scott Moe called those who participated idiots. He directed anyone upset with the Saskatchewan Party government’s response to COVID-19 to contact his office or a provincial representative.

“Dr. Shahab will not let this incident distract him from continuing his important ongoing work and is unavailable for comment today,” Moe’s executive director of communications, Jim Billington, said in a statement.

“While appropriate steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of Dr. Shahab, we are unable to provide information regarding security considerations.”

In the N.W.T., RCMP said Monday that a 28-year-old Alberta man had been charged with making threatening statements toward the chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola.

Police said threats were made over the phone Jan. 20 during a call to the Kandola’s office.

Police did not reveal the nature of the threats, but said they were concerning. Police say they launched an investigation after the call was received and took the man into custody Jan. 22.

Clinton Leussink is charged with intimidation and uttering threats. He is scheduled to appear in territorial court in Yellowknife Feb. 16.