By Canadian Press

Comparing vaccine passports to residential schools ‘repugnant’: B.C. chiefs

Sep 16, 2021 | 2:18 PM

OTTAWA — The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations says it is “harmful and repugnant” that a People’s Party of Canada candidate is comparing vaccine passports to residential schools.

Vancouver-Quadra PPC candidate Renate Siekmann sent a pamphlet to voters in her riding this week with “no vaccine passport” and “discrimination is wrong” written on a photo of Indigenous children at a residential school in 1880.

She later connected her complaints about vaccine passports to the “pass system” implemented by the federal government in 1885, that required Indigenous people on reserves to get a pass from an Indian Agent when they wanted to leave their community.

BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee says PPC Leader Maxime Bernier must fire Siekmann.

He said claiming a public health measure is the equivalent to the genocidal and violent practices inflicted on Indigenous Peoples shows an “immense depth of ignorance and lack of judgment.”

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

12h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

18h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

Dec 11, 2024

Siekmann says she is “pro-vaccine” but that vaccine passports are a violation of human rights.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2021. 

The Canadian Press