New Tort of Harassment: Alberta Health Services v Johnston
Alberta Health Service employees experienced the brunt of the anti-vaccine and anti-masking sentiments triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Calgary mayoral candidate Kevin Johnston in particular was a prominent agitator against the employees of AHS not only expressing anti-vaccine and anti-masking rhetoric in-person and online, but also calling AHS employees terrorists and criminals. As a result of his treatment of AHS employees, particularly his treatment of the plaintiff Sarah Nunn, the tort of harassment has been officially recognized in Alberta. I summarize here the test for the new tort and what damages can flow from it.