Poilievre deems B.C. nurse suspension “authoritarian censorship”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is condemning the suspension and heavy fine imposed on British Columbia nurse Amy Hamm, calling it an attack on free expression.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is condemning the suspension and heavy fine imposed on British Columbia nurse Amy Hamm, calling it an attack on free expression.
“A nurse with a spotless track record gets fined and suspended for pointing out there are two genders, and for praising world renowned author & women’s rights advocate J.K. Rowling,” Poilievre wrote on X.
“This is authoritarian censorship. We must restore free speech and free thinking in a free country.”
Hamm, who worked in health care for more than 13 years, was suspended for one month and ordered to pay nearly $100,000 in legal costs by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer called the fine and suspension “completely unjust for simply pointing out the fact that there are two genders.”
The disciplinary panel concluded that four of Hamm’s public statements amounted to unprofessional conduct, saying they included discriminatory remarks about transgender people while identifying as a nurse.
The decision followed a series of complaints beginning in 2020 after Hamm co-sponsored a Vancouver billboard that read “I (heart) J.K. Rowling.”
The College launched a review of Hamm’s public statements between 2018 and 2021, resulting in a 332-page report and more than three weeks of hearings.
Hamm has vowed to appeal, arguing the College is punishing her for “truthful” statements about biological reality and women’s rights.
“Biological reality matters, and so does freedom of expression,” Hamm said in a statement released through the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which is supporting her case.
Her lawyer, Lisa Bildy, said the ruling penalizes a nurse for expressing mainstream views and risks creating a chilling effect on free expression among regulated professionals.
The appeal is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
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Good to see Poilievre speaking up about these "freedom of speech" issues. I believe he will tackle more of these oppressive topics plaguing our country on a more frequent basis, especially in Parliament, when he is able to get back inside and shine more light on these issues dogging our nation.
Poilievre should not have taken so long to speak up about this travesty. Good that he did though.👍