York University mandates COVID vaccines, retired professor calls to 'break the spirit' of unvaccinated Canadians

A retired history professor from Toronto’s York University made controversy over Twitter in a post supporting "compliance" to vaccine mandates. York University shortly mandated COVID vaccines soon after.

In a since deleted tweet, Doug Little articulated that vaccinated Canadians should "break the spirit" of the unvaccinated by "escalating the exclusions" and "force compliance."

In another tweet, he said, "Zero sympathy. Zero" regarding labour shortages forcing Ontario restaurants to either scale back or close shop in preparation for the fourth COVID wave.

York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton issued a statement on Thursday stating that the university would "continue to advance multiple strategies and initiatives to protect our students, staff, faculty, instructors and researchers from COVID-19."

The unsettling tweets come following an August 6 call to implement a province-wide vaccine policy and COVID Safe Pass at all Ontario post-secondary "to ensure a safe reopening in the fall."

"Given growing concerns related to the Delta variant and other variants of concern, both locally and around the world, Colleges Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities call on the government to provide a province-wide policy that would require the vaccination of postsecondary students, staff and faculty, to help ensure optimal public health protection for all."

They said a "coordinated and consistent approach" by Ontario’s government is the "optimal solution," adding, "the adoption of the COVID Safe Pass that would provide businesses and institutions an additional tool to help support public health measures."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford opposed introducing a vaccine passport in Ontario, stating that it would cause a "split society." Though Ford did not support workplaces requiring proof of vaccination either, he said he would allow private companies to make their own decisions on the matter.

Lenton added that after consultations with stakeholders across York University, the institution would mandate COVID vaccines for all community members and visitors on its campus this fall. She said they would grant medical and human rights exemptions.

"Vaccination is the most powerful tool we have to protect ourselves and our communities from COVID-19," she concluded.

This announcement came before the federal government announced a vaccine mandate for federal employees, and another announcement to ban interprovincial travel for unvaccinated Canadians via train, plane, or large marine vessels.