A municipal council member from West Nipissing in Ontario has expressed regret for a mandatory vaccination policy that had been in place for a year. At a council meeting on 3rd January, Councillor Anne Tessier apologized for the consequences of the policy and read a statement. An excerpt of her speech was posted on social media on 2nd March, while the original meeting footage was posted on the council’s YouTube channel. Tessier noted that the policy had caused harm and tension among staff and residents, and that it had been adopted in error. Despite being presented with public health data demonstrating that, by January 2022, there were similar or more cases reported among vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people, the council had adopted the policy, she said. Following a council meeting on 20th December, where staff recommended the policy be rescinded, the council voted to end the vaccination mandate. West Nipissing is a bilingual area in northeastern Ontario with around half its population living in Sturgeon Falls. Councillor Tessier declined to comment further on the matter.
Councilor sorry for enforcing COVID vaccine requirement.
