Falk sticks to guns, won’t reveal vax status

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This article was published 29/11/2021 (1808 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Provencher MP Ted Falk continues to keep his vaccination status private, even after entering Parliament this week.

Current rules state that anyone attending Parliament must have proof of vaccination or proof of a medical exemption with a recent negative antigen test.

But Falk said he has good reason to continue keeping his status private.

“I think people’s personal healthcare choices are an issue of privacy, and I just don’t like the whole idea of ‘othering’ people that I’ve seen so much of the last 18 months,” he said.

Falk said the debate has caused division.

“I’ve seen it in my church, I see it in my communities, I see it in places of work where it just creates division,” he said. “These are very personal choices for a lot of people, and I want to support people no matter what choice they make.”

Falk has long said he doesn’t oppose vaccinations but supports people’s right to choose for themselves.

“Obviously vaccinations are an important part of getting beyond COVID, and there’s lots of reasons why people choose not to take them. I want to respect that as well.

He also criticized the Liberal throne speech for promising mandatory vaccinations in the federal government, saying as recently as mid-July, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there would be no mandatory vaccinations.

“I think it’s a serious infringement on our constitutional rights, and I want to be clear, I’m not opposed to vaccinations,” he said.

“I’m just really troubled with all the division I see,” he added.