‘Alberta influence’ blamed for B.C. vax rates

VANCOUVER • A longtime member of the Opposition Liberals in B.C. who is pushing for higher vaccination rates in the north says the “Alberta influence” is a factor in a part of B.C. where intensive care units can’t accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients.

Mike Bernier said proximity to neighbouring Alberta “set us back from day one” when it comes to some northern residents shunning vaccination.

“It would be the Alberta influence. A good portion of people in Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, the Fort St. John area, are very closely related, whether it be for personal reasons or through work, with Alberta,” he said. “And we’ve seen the problems in Alberta with a solid message of trying to get people vaccinated until just recently, and the crisis that they’re in.”

Bernier said some were so angry when B.C. introduced vaccine passports that they posted online messages about shooting him for supporting the policy.

Most residents in the B.C. region aren’t anti-vaxxers, Bernier said.

“They’re strong willed and do not like government intervention. They just want to work and raise their families and are very skeptical of government officials in general telling them what to do.”

Bernier, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 two days before his appointment for a first dose of a vaccine last May, has steadfastly spoken in favour of vaccination, making him a target of threats. About 100 people rallied last month outside his office in Dawson Creek, where Northern Health says 55 per cent of those eligible had received a second dose as of Tuesday.

B.C.’S overall vaccination rate was about 82 per cent on Thursday.

“I got contacted by the RCMP because they had made a big Facebook rally page, and somebody went on there about 10 minutes beforehand saying ‘perfect, now we know where he is. Let’s get our guns and go shoot this guy so we don’t have to listen to him any more,”’ Bernier said.

“I can’t back down on the message of what I know and think is right for the people in my region.

“And, you know, nobody’s going to deter me from that just by making some threats.”