Why is James Topp still marching? Why did the Canada Marches team send 428 letters to all the members of parliament, including sitting senators? It is because members of Canadian Armed Forces are still being disproportionately affected by federal government mandates.
In January 2022, the City of Windsor Ontario fired 104 employees for refusing to be vaccinated or refusing to disclose their status. Of these, 20 have moved forward to pursue legal action against the city, with a list of plaintiffs that includes first responders, long-term care staff and a variety of other office and technical roles.
IS THIS ANOTHER WIN FOR FREEDOM OF CHOICE?
Really it isn’t. When one reads the requirements and looks at this with open eyes it simply becomes a way to change the true focus. The military personnel who exercised their Charter of Rights and Freedoms to choose a medical procedure they disagreed with are still at the whim of the Chief of Defence.
These men and women who serve in our Canadian Military deserve much more from our government and our citizens.
Recently Unifor Local 444 from the Chrysler plant in Windsor won their grievance over the mandate forced on them by Fiat Chrysler.
When employees must give up their fundamental rights to maintain employment that decision is not a win.
Since October of 2021 the federal government implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for domestic and international travel as well as federal & federally regulated employees.
We’re hopeful that these mandates won’t be reinstated with the emergence of new variants. But that remains to be seen.