Councillor wants advice on whether vaccine mandates represent 'oppression' of unvaccinated
Suggesting vaccination mandates could be perceived as oppression against the unvaccinated, Councillor Michael Van Holst wants his council colleagues to refer the issue to the Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti- Oppression Advisory Committee (DIAAC) at city hall.
"I think it would be worth having DIAAC consider those (mandates) and under what circumstances that would be a reasonable thing to do," he tells CTV News.
In a letter to council’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC), Van Holst recommends getting a preemptive opinion about the potential oppression of three groups:
- those concerned about long term safety,
- a scientific control group,
- those seeking medical privacy
His letter states that with regard to mandating vaccination, “some will claim it to be an act of coercion and potentially oppression.”
"We’ve never been in a position where a medical treatment might be mandated by the city or a business," he adds.
City hall has not mandated vaccination to access municipal services or facilities in London.
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health for London and Middlesex County has expressed support for requiring vaccination in high risk settings— with exemptions on medical, religious, or philosophical grounds.
Mayor Ed Holder rejects the premise of Van Holst’s letter.
"Dying is discriminatory because it limits everything else that you can do!" Mayor Holder fired back when asked about the letter. "I think what has to happen, as we have said consistently over the last months get your shot, (then) get your second shot."
Councillor Shawn Lewis says he also won’t vote refer the matter to the advisory committee— suggesting it’s a misleading distraction.
"Absolutely not. This is a health decision," explains Councillor Lewis. "This is a big red herring. I want to see as many Londoners vaccinated as soon as possible so we can take off these masks and get back to life as normal."
Regarding his personal opinion about vaccination Van Holst says, "I am comfortable with the idea of informed consent. So if people make the decision, that’s great so long as they have the information given to them about the consequences."
Van Holst’s letter is on the July 28 agenda of the SPPC meeting at city hall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.