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The City of Regina has received its fair share of feedback on its plans to implement a vaccine passport for civic buildings.
Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk says council has received regular emails through the city’s contact form, at times multiple messages from the same people. There have been some positive messages of support but the majority have come from those opposed to masking and vaccine mandates, she says.
In her dealings with opponents of proof of vaccination, the Ward 1 councillor hasn’t found them to be productive.
“I really do want to understand the perspective people are coming from and it’s difficult to have a real honest dialogue with people,” Stadnichuk says.
“Usually on any other topic, we can have a dialogue, you can talk about different points of view, you can provide different information but it’s really difficult with those who are opposed to the vaccine mandate.”
The COVID-19 report included in the agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting says since the city’s announcement on Aug. 31 that a vaccine passport system would be implemented, it has received more than 100 calls and emails and 66 service requests.
A few themes that came up included obtaining COVID-19 testing, clarification on masking requirements and demanding refunds because they would be denied entry to city facilities. As well, there was disagreement with the city’s vaccine policy and privacy concerns.
The agenda also included letters sent from delegations who spoke to council that night, the majority of them filled with arguments that reject the efficacy of vaccines, along with conspiracy theories and fears about looming authoritarianism.
Stadnichuk says she used to be saddened but has become frustrated with the intransigence.
“They are convinced of their information,” she says. “They’re convinced that they know more than medical experts that we’re listening to because they have found other medical experts that they claim say something opposite.”
She says those who insist personal liberty trumps all forget that their choices have consequences for others.
“They’ve tried to make this a debate about personal freedom when it really is about social responsibility: How our actions impact the community overall and how we’re going to protect the community,” she says.
“You have the right to smoke if you want to but you don’t have the right to smoke in a daycare or inside the library or any public buildings because it affects other people.”
