OTTAWA – It is vital for as many Canadians as possible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, said Green Party Leader Annamie Paul. But she questioned the Liberals’ motives in announcing a plan for mandatory vaccination, two days before calling an election and with no details, saying they must provide information on how the plan will accommodate people with legitimate reasons for not getting vaccinated
“Vaccines save lives and are a crucial tool in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Every person in Canada who is eligible to be vaccinated should do so as soon as possible. However, we know that there are people who are unable to get vaccinated for legitimate reasons, whether those be medical conditions, religious or cultural convictions, or that live in rural communities with limited access to either vaccination clinics or information that addresses their concerns. What accommodations will be made for them?
“There are whole communities of people in Canada with historical experiences of very painful and damaging interactions with the healthcare system, many of whom are still dealing with the legacies of that trauma. These are legitimate concerns, and we need to see a plan to address them that is focused on education and that explains why getting vaccinated is important and how it will help to protect them, their communities and the general public.
“This is a public health matter, and it is wrong that it is being politicized. Big public policy issues must be approached in a careful, thoughtful and considered manner. The Green Party looks forward to seeing the answers to these questions and the details of the proposed policy.”
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