May 14, 2021
EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has taken further legal action today against an individual who has publicly threatened harm to Alberta Health Services employees.
The Court of Queen’s Bench today granted an Interim Injunction Order (restraining order) against Kevin J. Johnston preventing him from obstructing or interfering with AHS and its officers and employees, including public health officers, in their enforcement efforts of the Public Health Act, including the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Orders. The Order prohibits him from threatening such conduct or urging others to engage or assist in such conduct. The Order also prohibits him from contacting any AHS employees by any means, recording or photographing AHS employees, visiting any AHS sites (except for necessary medical treatment), attending at the residential premises of AHS officers or employees, approaching or being within 100 meters of any AHS public health officer, and publishing any threats or hate speech directed at AHS and its officers and employees, including soliciting the names, addresses, phone numbers and other personal or private information.
Mr. Johnston has engaged in persistent threatening conduct and communication in the media and on social media over the past number of weeks. He has engaged in aggressive and threatening behaviour towards specific individuals employed by AHS as well as the general AHS workforce. AHS took this legal step to protect our staff and to ensure they are supported and cared for.
Any hate speech or aggression towards our AHS team is unacceptable and unwarranted. AHS teams have worked to serve Albertans during the pandemic. AHS stands alongside our employees and also thanks all Albertans who have reached out with words of support and encouragement.
Note, the order is available to media on request. We have blacked out the names of two employees to protect them.
