Alberta doctors labelled ‘pedophiles, sex offenders’ at UCP fundraising event, NDP say

Alberta’s United Conservative government has come under fire after some controversial comments made by a speaker at a fundraising event.

The event, called the Injection of Truth Town Hall, was held at the Southside Victory Church in Calgary on Monday and was already drawing some backlash over its main topic — the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in children.

The opposition NDP now claim the credibility of Alberta physicians in general were called into question when someone who spoke at the event allegedly labelled them as sex offenders.

“At the event, one of the speakers, a previously discredited and now unlicensed physician from Alberta, called Alberta physicians sexual predators and pedophiles,” reads a statement from NDP Leader Rachel Notley.

The speaker apparently told the meeting it was time to rename the doctor’s regulatory body, the College of Physicans and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), to “the college of pedophiles and sex abusers.”

Notley claims the statement received great applause from those in attendance.

She is now calling on Premier Danielle Smith apologize and distance herself from the alleged comments. She also says the money raised should be given to charity.

“Danielle Smith must reverse her position supporting yesterday’s fundraising event sponsored by her MLA from Calgary-Lougheed and attended by several additional UCP MLAs,” reads the statement. “Smith and her MLAs must apologize to physicians, disavow these views publicly and donate all funds raised through this event to a charity of the CPSA’s choice.”

The statement from Smith’s office says the government supports front-line healthcare workers and the “inflammatory comments” questioning their dedication and care “are simply not true.”

Calgary-Lougheed MLA Eric Bouchard previously told CityNews the event was being organized by his constituency association. It was listed as an event on the UCP government’s website.

Dr. Paul Parks is the head of the Alberta Medical Association and says he’s worried the province may be in a less welcoming light for health care professionals who would have considered moving here.

“We have to change the narrative in Alberta,” he says. “This has to be the kind of place where all healthcare workers want to work.”

Notley similarly noted Alberta’s health-care system is facing a crisis driven by the shortage of physicians.

The province announced a new compensation model for family physicians earlier this year. Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange said at the time it will help stabilize and strengthen Alberta’s primary healthcare.

With files from Darren Rathwell and Lisa Grant