The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) is backing Leah McInnes, a registered nurse who is scheduled to appear beginning Thursday before the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan disciplinary tribunal in Regina..The hearing is set to take place over four days..The College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) says McInnes was guilty of professional misconduct when she participated in protests against vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CRNS accuses McInnes of not acting professionally..Also, McInnes is in trouble for things she said on social media between August and October 2021. In those posts, she shared her thoughts about vaccine mandates and privacy in healthcare. The CRNS thought these posts were wrong for a nurse to make and called it professional misconduct..The CRNS said the comments were about Saskatchewan-related COVID-19 vaccine policies and there were no “mandates” in Saskatchewan. They said her statements were “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “misleading” information and misused her power as a nurse..According to the JCCF, the news media, government officials and medical authorities “have frequently referred to vaccine policies by government and other entities as “mandates,” in Saskatchewan and across the country.”.The CRNS investigated and suggested an agreement where McInnes would admit to professional misconduct. But she said no to this offer. .McInnes decided to defend her rights under the Charter to speak her opinions..On March 28, the CRNS filed a Notice of Hearing. McInnes asked the CRNS to explain more clearly what they accused her of. They provided her with the contents of the allegations..This case is similar to another case in Saskatchewan from a few years ago. In that case, a nurse had also talked about healthcare on social media and raised concerns..In 2020, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal made a decision in the case of Strom v. Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association. In this decision, the court reversed a disciplinary committee's previous determination of professional misconduct concerning Carolyn Strom, who is a registered nurse from Prince Albert..Strom had posted on social media, expressing her concerns and criticisms about how a long-term care facility treated her now-deceased grandfather..The Court, in an authoritative statement strongly supporting free expression, said "Such criticism, even by those delivering those services, does not necessarily undermine public confidence in healthcare workers or the healthcare system."."Indeed, it can enhance confidence by demonstrating those with the greatest knowledge of this massive and opaque system, and who have the ability to effect change, are both prepared and permitted to speak and pursue positive change."."In any event, the fact that public confidence in aspects of the healthcare system may suffer as a result of fair criticism can itself result in positive change. Such is the messy business of democracy.”.JCCF President John Carpay said "It is troubling that this College is trying to silence and punish Ms. McInnes after the ground-breaking decision of the Court of Appeal in Strom.”
