Last month, as the Ford PCs were justifying imposing a vaccine passport in Ontario with the threat of even harsher lockdowns, Deputy Premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott told the public that facility operators should call the police for enforcement.
A few weeks later, that’s exactly what happened.
On September 30th, inside the taxpayer owned Ripley-Huron Community Centre in Ripley Ontario, a mom was arrested in front of her young crying children by OPP officers because she did not disclose a vaccine passport.
One of the Ford PC government regulations on the application of vaccine passports exempts youth under 18 years of age from having to disclose their vaccine status to access a sporting facility. But parents who do not wish to show their vaccine status are not able to access that same sporting facility even if their child is inside. The regulation doesn’t even allow parents to submit a negative COVID test instead of a vaccine passport.
Taxpayer resources shouldn’t be spent on arresting parents who want to accompany their children inside sporting facilities. And the police shouldn’t be the personal enforcement body for a politician’s orders. But Christine Elliott and Doug Ford believe otherwise. We all remember in 2019, when Doug Ford wanted the OPP to get him a customized personal van with a television, fridge, and a reclining leather sofa.
Later that week, I was joined outside a sports facility in Cambridge by former NHL player Steve McKenna, lawyer and hockey dad Stephen Penney, and other concerned parents. We called on the Ford PC government to allow all parents to attend their children’s sports regardless of whether they wish to disclose their vaccine status.
Barring parents from entering sporting facilities in which their children are playing compromises the comfort and safety of our youth. Games are often fast moving and competitive, and coaches and volunteers cannot always keep their eyes on every child. Parental presence at games and practices means extra eyes on the players and a safer environment overall.
This regulation is another unreasonable decision by the Ford PC government. It forces many families to divide parents from their children or keep children from the sports they love to play, and which are fundamental to their development.
It is in the best interest of a youth’s health and safety that their parents are present during their sporting activities.
Belinda Karahalios
MPP, Cambridge, North Dumfries, North Brant
