The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) is demanding the Ontario government rescind their “vaccine passport” laws or face legal action..While representing four clients, a legal warning letter was issued yesterday by the JCCF to the Ontario government demanding the vaccine passport mandate be revoked immediately..The new laws came into effect Wednesday and mandate Ontarians 12 and up to show proof of two doses of COVID vaccinations to gain access to a wide range of businesses and organizations..Since Ontario announced the implementation of a vaccine passport system September 1, the JCCF said it has received hundreds of emails from citizens with a range of concerns including loss of employment and the denial of access to restaurants, gyms, sporting events, event spaces, recreation facilities and more..The demand letter the JCCF sent to the Ontario government asserts that “mandatory vaccination for COVID constitutes a significant, unwarranted and profound infringement on the rights of Canadians that cannot be justified in a free and democratic society..“Section 7 of the Charter guarantees the right to liberty and the security of the person. Ontarians should not be coerced or pressured by the government into submitting to a medical intervention to which they do not consent,” said JCCF staff lawyer Jorge Pineda..“Informed consent and the right to bodily autonomy are two principles that our laws have long protected. It will be a tragedy to see Ontarians, including children, being coerced to take the vaccine, or else be socially marginalized.”.The JCCF states that the new laws violate sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Charter “under which Canadians enjoy the right to freedom of conscience, the right to liberty and security of the person and the right to be equal before the law..The JCCF claims those who choose not to be vaccinated for a variety of reasons ranging from religious beliefs to concerns over serious side effects, will have their participation in society limited..“The new mandate will have the effect of segregating individuals and especially young children from mainstream society. Mandating a system that denies Canadian’s access to certain services that are arbitrarily defined as nonessential by the government creates a slippery slope, and sets a dangerous descent into a medical dictatorship,” said JCCF staff lawyer Henna Parmar..The JCCF also states in their letter vaccine passports are being touted as an effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which ignores the overwhelming evidence suggesting these vaccines don’t prevent people from catching or spreading the virus..The letter also states that “no provision is made in the new law for the existence of natural immunity among those with prior exposure to COVID-19” citing that several studies now show that natural immunity to the virus is superior and longer lasting that immunity provided by the vaccine..The letter further explains the government must comply with the Charter “by not infringing any of its enumerated rights, subject to such reasonable limits…as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”.If the province fails to do away with the vaccine requirements, the JCCF “will be launching a Charter challenge against the government of Ontario, seeking redress from the courts on behalf of our clients and all aggrieved citizens in the province,” the legal letter concludes..Melanie Risdon isa reporter with the Western Standard.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) is demanding the Ontario government rescind their “vaccine passport” laws or face legal action..While representing four clients, a legal warning letter was issued yesterday by the JCCF to the Ontario government demanding the vaccine passport mandate be revoked immediately..The new laws came into effect Wednesday and mandate Ontarians 12 and up to show proof of two doses of COVID vaccinations to gain access to a wide range of businesses and organizations..Since Ontario announced the implementation of a vaccine passport system September 1, the JCCF said it has received hundreds of emails from citizens with a range of concerns including loss of employment and the denial of access to restaurants, gyms, sporting events, event spaces, recreation facilities and more..The demand letter the JCCF sent to the Ontario government asserts that “mandatory vaccination for COVID constitutes a significant, unwarranted and profound infringement on the rights of Canadians that cannot be justified in a free and democratic society..“Section 7 of the Charter guarantees the right to liberty and the security of the person. Ontarians should not be coerced or pressured by the government into submitting to a medical intervention to which they do not consent,” said JCCF staff lawyer Jorge Pineda..“Informed consent and the right to bodily autonomy are two principles that our laws have long protected. It will be a tragedy to see Ontarians, including children, being coerced to take the vaccine, or else be socially marginalized.”.The JCCF states that the new laws violate sections 2, 7 and 15 of the Charter “under which Canadians enjoy the right to freedom of conscience, the right to liberty and security of the person and the right to be equal before the law..The JCCF claims those who choose not to be vaccinated for a variety of reasons ranging from religious beliefs to concerns over serious side effects, will have their participation in society limited..“The new mandate will have the effect of segregating individuals and especially young children from mainstream society. Mandating a system that denies Canadian’s access to certain services that are arbitrarily defined as nonessential by the government creates a slippery slope, and sets a dangerous descent into a medical dictatorship,” said JCCF staff lawyer Henna Parmar..The JCCF also states in their letter vaccine passports are being touted as an effective tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which ignores the overwhelming evidence suggesting these vaccines don’t prevent people from catching or spreading the virus..The letter also states that “no provision is made in the new law for the existence of natural immunity among those with prior exposure to COVID-19” citing that several studies now show that natural immunity to the virus is superior and longer lasting that immunity provided by the vaccine..The letter further explains the government must comply with the Charter “by not infringing any of its enumerated rights, subject to such reasonable limits…as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”.If the province fails to do away with the vaccine requirements, the JCCF “will be launching a Charter challenge against the government of Ontario, seeking redress from the courts on behalf of our clients and all aggrieved citizens in the province,” the legal letter concludes..Melanie Risdon isa reporter with the Western Standard.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
