Article content continued

Mayor Jim Watson said he spoke to the chief of police Thursday, and that while women should not have to “push their way through to get into the clinic,” the clinic protesters fall into a legal grey zone.

“There’s a special events bylaw, which is for major events. Our lawyer said if we were to bring in something specific for (individual protesters), it would be challenged under the charter in two minutes.

“What frustrates me is that individuals, particularly women who are going to this clinic, should not be harassed and blocked, and the chief assures me no one is permitted to block anyone. But he doesn’t have any legal authority to arrest them because they’re on that side of the sidewalk.”

Watson said the clinic’s best course of action could be to apply for a “bubble zone,” the same kind that was established at the Morgentaler clinic in Toronto, which was firebombed in 1992. An injunction was enacted so that no protester can come within 500 feet of the clinic.

“The chief or his senior management has asked to meet with clinic people because he wants to make sure all lines of communication are open,” said Watson. “He was concerned there was one reference to police being called and they reacted angrily and rudely. He said that’s not acceptable behaviour, and I agree.”

Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney said she reached out to the clinic, the mayor and Bordeleau as soon as she heard about the clinic’s issues.

“Obviously, it’s very concerning … I want to have that conversation with the clinic, with police, to understand what will their response be and assurance that any woman seeking health services in this city, especially at this location, will be protected,” McKenney said.

Hodson acknowledged the protesters have a right to be there, but is speaking out now, she said, because patients and staff have reached a breaking point.

“The easiest way to solve this is just put them on the other side of the street. But if they’re not going to enforce the bylaw, an injunction is going to have to be the way we go, but where does the money for that come from? It’s very expensive.”

“I don’t ever want to have to call one of my colleague’s partners or spouses to tell them that something bad has happened at work, when we knew (it could be prevented).”