Poilievre says he opposes ‘unscientific vaccine mandates’ after technical error prevents vote

Poilievre said in a statement that he unequivocally opposes unscientific vaccine mandates, and has "opposed them from day one."

"I oppose the unscientific vaccine mandates. I opposed them from day one and I will oppose them until they are all removed.

"I attempted to vote for MP Melissa Lantsman's motion ending all COVID travel restrictions. I was voting remotely as I was in Thunder Bay, but the voting application did not register my vote as a result of a technical problem.

"I will be raising a point of order to alert the speaker to the issue and asking for my vote to be properly counted as favouring the end of these rules," he wrote.

The motion to revert to pre-pandemic rules and service levels for travel was defeated on Monday, with Nays beating out Yeas 202 to 117.

The motion, put forward by Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman, called on the House to revert measures that restrict unvaccinated Canadians from travelling by train or plane in their own country.

"Canadians are currently experiencing unacceptable wait times at Canadian airports, even though airports are still operating at reduced capacity. Current restrictions have been cited by experts as ineffective and contributing to additional delays, costs, and confusion, as well as acute labour shortages," the motion read.

"Canada's international allies have moved to lift COVID-19 restrictions at airports and other points of entry," it continues, saying that "Canada is losing business and economic opportunities."

The motion was voted down by the Liberals, NDP, Bloc, and Greens.