Protest congestion can affect emergency response, paramedics warn
CBC
As hundreds of vehicles snarled traffic in downtown Vancouver on Saturday to support a cross-Canada protest against vaccine mandates, one paramedic worried he wasn't going to get a tiny patient to hospital in time.
"I had a six-month-old having anaphylaxis … very, very serious, and unfortunately our response and our transport was slowed down because of this," said the paramedic.
"And I know I'm not the only one."
CBC News has granted the paramedic anonymity over fears he could be fired for speaking out.
He said he respects people's right to protest and gather but the congestion on the roads Saturday made it difficult for people like him to do their jobs.
"The challenge was that every single road artery in and out of the city was blocked," he said. "It didn't matter which way we went ... even with lights and sirens trying to clear the way."
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires urgent treatment.
The paramedic said he eventually made it to hospital in time and the baby received the care they needed to recover.
He said for the most part people weren't disrespectful or intentionally trying to get in the way of his ambulance, but the stress of potentially not getting to hospital in time was excruciating.
"This job is challenging enough. It was a brutal feeling," he said. "The patient comes first and I couldn't do that. Honestly, it broke my heart. I'm still having a hard time with it."
The protest in Vancouver on Saturday was held in solidarity with the thousands of protesters who arrived in Ottawa on the weekend to protest vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions, in what's been dubbed the Freedom Convoy.
Similar rallies took place in Kelowna, Prince George and Victoria on Saturday.
Police in Vancouver and Victoria said other than traffic congestion throughout the cities, there were no issues and all convoy participants obeyed all rules of the road.
In Ottawa on Sunday honking and cheering continued as thousands of protesters gathered near Parliament Hill.
The RCMP has not recruited enough new officers or effectively assigned its members to meet its operational needs, according to a new report from the auditor general — raising concerns about public safety across the country.
Oil prices fell Monday morning after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would hold off on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure amid productive talks between the two countries.
Premier Doug Ford says his government plans to give Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport special designation that would allow the province to bypass municipal and provincial laws as it pushes to expand the runway downtown.
Jenelle Hughes says she worries every time her two older children take their car to get to Fanshawe College in London, Ont., from their home in Dutton.
Oil prices fell Monday morning after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would hold off on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure amid productive talks between the two countries.
While spring technically started late last week, Newfoundland and Labrador isn't free from winter weather just yet.
The Sudbury School Bus Consortium is suspending all school buses in Greater Sudbury as the community continues to clean up following a major storm.
Two large corporate landlords owning a combined 9,008 rental units in Halifax are reporting smaller annual increases in their average rents for 2025 than the previous year.
The Holt government has reached a deal with Ottawa on compensation for tens of millions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue from the Christmas season in 2024.
The government of Saskatchewan has announced plans to reduce the length of non-resident game bird hunting licences to combat illegal guiding.
An 87-year-old Alberta man is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical allegations of physical and sexual assault involving minors.
Eight casinos across southwest B.C. have been sold to First Nations in the last two years, with the province's gambling scene set to be reshaped as a result.
Hamilton hosts the Junos Sunday, and the musical awards show is bringing tourists, musicians, concerts and a ton of themed events to the city this week.