The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) has eliminated its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for volunteer firefighters. .“It was a win to have Mr. (Craig) Nygard reinstated in his position, both personally for Mr. Nygard, and also for the community served by CSRD,” said Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) lawyer Charlene Le Beau in a Thursday press release. .“It was an even bigger win to see CSRD dropped the mandate altogether.”.The JCCF sent a warning letter to the CSRD in April, demanding accommodation for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption for Nygard. .READ MORE: Suspended BC firefighter reinstated with vaccine accommodation.Nygard was reinstated to his position in July, but had to undergo weekly rapid antigen testing. .The volunteer firefighter requested a religious exemption from CSRD’s vaccine mandate. He sought out this exemption after doing research, weighing the benefits of risks of the COVID-19 vaccines, and considering his natural immunity. .The release said the policy has been dropped for volunteer firefighters, but not for other workers. It said the district has insisted it has the right to reinstate this policy if supported or recommended by British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. .At least 30 volunteer firefighters lost their positions for refusing to take COVID-19 vaccines, and the district experienced a worker shortage. Le Beau noted communities rely on volunteer firefighters to keep them safe, and a shortage of them could put people at risk. .Le Beau said to her knowledge, not a single firefighter except Nygard has been reinstated after being fired for being unvaccinated. .She said it's imperative governments and organizations “realize the harms they are causing society by the imposition of mandates that restrict people’s bodily autonomy.” .“People are not going to stand for the erosion of their rights and freedoms in circumstances where the science is unsettled, where there is evidence of potential personal harm by complying with the mandate, and/or where the mandate goes against the person’s religious, moral or conscience beliefs,” she said.
