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Charges laid in Ottawa under new crime of harassing a health worker

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Charges laid in Ottawa under new crime of harassing a health worker

OTTAWA — A 58-year-old Ontario man is facing charges under a new law against intimidating a health-care worker.

Ottawa police say there is a warrant out for the arrest of Louis Mertzelos in relation to threatening phone calls made to a health-care worker.

Ottawa family physician Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth says she was threatened after appearing on a national television show advocating for people to keep wearing masks.

She says police told her about the charges this morning, stemming from multiple harassing phone calls she received in September.

Harassment and intimidation of health-care workers took on new levels during the pandemic, prompting the federal Liberals to pass a law in December 2021 to specifically make it a crime to intimidate health workers or their patients.

There are similar separate offences for harassment of politicians, judges, journalists and members of the clergy.

Kaplan-Myrth says threats were against the law before Bill C-3 took effect in January, but the specific offence sends a message to health-care providers that threats against them carry particular concern.

“It’s all been so horrible,” she said in an interview. “This law makes a difference.

Mertzelos is also charged with what the police say is a “hate-motivated offence” for harassing communication, harassment by repeated communication and mischief.

Kaplan-Myrth says more than one person called to harass and intimidate her and her staff, and the man charged today is alleged to also have targeted her with antisemitic slurs.

She says police were slow to respond to her initial complaints but have since been more active and say they are continuing to investigate the other threats made against her.

Kaplan-Myrth called it a relief “that for once, somebody has our backs.”

“It’s always more distressing when you say something horrible is happening, and then other people just shrug and they don’t do anything,” she said.

The charge of intimidating a health worker has been laid against at least two other people, both of them in Peterborough, Ont., in January. The man and woman were alleged to have been involved in a protest outside the home of the city’s public health officer.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2022.

 

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney challenged at poll when out to vote in election

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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — It has been a rough few days for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. First, his 19th-ranked Tigers lost to Louisville on Saturday night, then he was told he couldn’t vote Tuesday at his polling place.

Swinney, whose given name is William, explained that the voting system had locked him out, saying a “William Swinney” had already voted last week. Swinney said it was his oldest son, Will, and not him.

“They done voted me out of the state,” Swinney said. “We’re 6-2 and 5-1 (in the Atlantic Coast Conference), man. They done shipped me off.”

Dabo Swinney had to complete a paper ballot and was told there will be a hearing on Friday to resolve the issue.

“I was trying to do my best and be a good citizen and go vote,” he said. “Sometimes doing your best ain’t good enough. You have to keep going though, keep figuring it out.”

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Fatality inquiry into Alberta boxer’s knockout death recommends better oversight

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EDMONTON – The judge leading a fatality inquiry into the knockout death of a boxer is recommending changes to how the sport is regulated and how head injuries are monitored.

Timothy Hague, who was 34, competed in a boxing match licensed by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission in June 2017 when his opponent, Adam Braidwood, knocked him unconscious.

Hague came to and was able to walk to the dressing room, where he vomited, and was then taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a large brain bleed.

His condition did not improve, care was withdrawn and Hague died two days after the fight.

Justice Carrie Sharpe with Alberta’s provincial court made 14 recommendations, including that combat sports be overseen by a provincial authority instead of a patchwork of municipal bodies and that there be concussion spotters at every event.

She also recommends that if a fighter receives a blow to the head in a technical knockout, they must provide a brain scan to prove they are fit to compete again.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

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Andreescu withdraws from Canada’s BJK Cup team ahead of its title defence in Spain

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TORONTO – Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from Canada’s team in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.

Tennis Canada said in a release that Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., is focusing on her health after she battled injuries throughout the season.

She returned from a nine-month absence due to a back injury at this year’s French Open before taking more time off following a first-round exit at the U.S. Open, where she was champion in 2019.

She recently returned to play two events in Japan in October, reaching the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Leylah Fernandez (Laval, Que.), Rebecca Marino (Vancouver), Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa), and Marina Stakusic (Mississauga) will form the Canadian team at the Billie Jean King Cup finals, which start later this month in Malaga, Spain.

Canada is looking to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to defend its world title, starting with a quarterfinal clash against the winner of Britain and Germany on November 17.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.

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