Health minister and family harassed by protesters at Canada Day event
Alberta's health minister says he's disappointed after supporters of a fringe Calgary mayoral candidate verbally harassed him and his family at a Canada Day event Thursday.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro was arriving at the Parkland Community Association in southeast Calgary with his wife and two sons when several supporters of fringe mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston began swarming him.
The protesters chanted “Lock Shandro up,” called him a war criminal and asked him to answer for destroying the lives and businesses of Albertans through COVID-19 restrictions. The harassment visibly upset one of Shandro's young sons.
Speaking to media after the harassment, Shandro said it was “an unfortunate way” for people to express their views, particularly during a Canada Day event meant for celebration.
“Obviously, throughout the pandemic there has been a lot of high emotions on both sides of the political spectrum, but this is a day to focus on celebrating Stage 3, celebrating family,” Shandro said.
“There's some anxiety for them to hear people believing some of this disinformation about vaccines.
It's been unfortunate, and the way it was expressed today was unfortunate.” Some of those yelling at Shandro were supporters of Kevin J. Johnston, a far-right agitator running for mayor in Calgary's upcoming municipal election.