Tory MLA criticizes province’s vaccine policy in social media post
A government MLA is against the mandatory vaccine policy and use of passports, and he’s speaking out about it using residential schools and internment camps to make his point.
Radisson PC MLA James Teitsma tells CTV News he believes the policy will exclude people.
“I really am opposed to forced or coerced vaccinations,” Teitsma said.
As of Sept. 3, Manitoba is limiting places like restaurants, gyms, sporting events and theatres to people with both shots. Children under 12 are allowed in with fully vaccinated caregivers.
Teitsma says he is fully vaccinated, encourages others to do so and works to debunk myths about the vaccine.
But he believes mandating vaccines will only increase vaccine hesitancy and decrease uptake.
“The audience that they’re dealing with have a deep rooted suspicion of government,” said Teitsma
He posted a lengthy opposition to his government’s plan online. He wrote that human rights violations like forcing Indigenous children into residential schools and Ukrainian and Japanese Canadians into internment camps and forced sterilizations have one thing in common - they were popular and favoured by the public.
Later he wrote that expanded use of passports and widespread use of mandatory vaccines had a flood of support and appear to be popular.
“The commonality that I’m trying to draw there is simply that popular opinion and public support shouldn’t be the measuring stick,” said Teitsma
The MLA also wrote people are more at risk going to a Winnipeg Blue Bomber game with vaccinated people than having two unvaccinated, asymptomatic people over for a visit.
In a statement, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Teitsma’s remarks are a health hazard, calling for him to be kicked out of caucus.
“It is absolutely unacceptable and sheer ignorance to compare a vaccine mandate with residential schools, internment camps and forced sterilizations,” Lamont said.
Health Minister Audrey Gordon was asked about Teitsma’s comments.
Gordon said her aim is to protect vulnerable people by ensuring everyone is on board to increase vaccine uptake.
“My focus as Minister of Health and Seniors care is to work with all Manitobans and MLAs and cabinet ministers and leaders of the opposition,” said Gordon
In January, Teitsma had additional committee appointments revoked for travelling with his family during a lockdown over the holidays.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.