B.C. premier praises opposition MLAs for vaccine advocacy in face of anti-vaccine constituents
B.C. Premier John Horgan is praising two opposition MLAs for their leadership in support of vaccines.
In a news conference Thursday, Horgan complimented BC Liberal Party MLAs Mike Bernier of Peace River South and Dan Davies of Peace River North who’ve advocated for COVID-19 vaccinations in the face of anti-vaccine advocates.
“(They) have taken courageous and an appropriate stance on these issues in the interest of protecting their communities,” he said.
B.C.’s Northern Health region has the highest rate of COVID-19 infections per capita. On Wednesday, it added 43.3 new cases per 100,000 residents, while Interior Health added just 20.
Horgan noted that it’s “largely” been in opposition ridings where MLAs have had to come out in support of vaccinations, contrary to the wishes of many of their constituents.
“I don't mean this in a partisan way … Largely in opposition ridings, (MLAs) have all done extraordinary work against the wishes of some of their constituents and supporters and I commend them for that leadership,” Horgan said.
“Every single one of them is going out of their way to protect people and that’s as it should be.”
Among his advocacy, Bernier has taken to Facebook to encourage his constituents to get vaccinated, citing the high case rates and hospitalizations in his district. In a Sept. 22 post he wrote, “I have been very public trying to encourage people to get vaccinated so if you haven’t and If you want to get vaccinated there are still opportunities to do so.”
Horgan’s commendations came as he faced scrutiny for leaving all 60 of the province’s school districts to decide on their own whether to make vaccines mandatory for teachers.
Horgan defended himself Thursday, claiming it would be an administrative overreach to tell all 60 district school boards, which are themselves the employers of school teachers, to make vaccinations mandatory.
“The districts are the employers,” he said. “We are the funder, to be sure, but there is a dual relationship here between (school board) trustees and the government.”
Horgan said he feels confident that districts will vote in favour of mandatory vaccination for teachers, especially since the BC Teachers’ Federation and CUPE – which represents school staff – are in favour of the move.
“I'm confident that school districts will be agreeable to that, Dr. (Bonnie) Henry and her team stand ready to work with everybody to get to the place we want to get to increasing the number of vaccines (and) protecting children.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.