Mandatory vaccines would equal ‘loss of fundamental rights,’ says Parliamentary report

According to the Vaccination Certificates and Fundamental Rights report, researchers say that those who are unable to be vaccinated are among those in the country who need their rights protected the most.

"People who cannot be vaccinated or live with a disease or disability are among those who need the most fundamental rights protections to ensure they are treated equally," wrote researchers.

"Creating categories of people based on their decision to be vaccinated or not could lead to different levels of freedom which could add to other systemic inequalities and affect some groups more than others," the report continues. "Requiring vaccination as a precondition to full participation in public life runs the risk of rendering a voluntary vaccination regime de facto mandatory."

"Subjecting the ability to participate in public life to some form of government surveillance diminishes the level of freedom one expects in a democracy... A digital certificate also poses technical challenges related to privacy, security and access."

Yesterday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said that the millions of Canadians who have thus far refused a vaccine should "get information."

"We do still have folks that are unvaccinated," Hajdu said. "It's very important for people to understand even as we see cases rise around North America, in the United States, that in fact people who have been vaccinated are very protected from COVID-19."

Previously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said that there were numerous reasons why some Canadians would not want a vaccine, including medical reasons and "personal or political choice."

Thus far, 6.3 million Canadians eligible for the COVID vaccine are yet to receive a single dose.