‘One of the most despicable things’

B.C. solicitor general criticizes couple who flew to Yukon for vaccine

VANCOUVER—Public condemnation grew Tuesday of a Vancouver couple accused of flying to a remote Yukon community to get a COVID-19 vaccine, with British Columbia’s solicitor general calling their alleged actions “despicable.”

Mike Farnworth criticized former Great Canadian Gaming Corp. CEO Rodney Baker and his wife, Ekaterina Baker, who have been issued tickets under the territory’s Emergency Measures Act and face fines of up to $1,000, plus fees.

“Frankly, I think what we saw yesterday of individuals flying to Yukon was probably one of the most despicable things that I’ve seen in a long time. It shows a complete lack of any sort of ethical or moral compass,” Farnworth said at a news conference on a separate matter.

“As we’ve also seen, they have paid a pretty high price, losing a $10-million-a-year job, as they should.”

Tickets filed in a Whitehorse court show the 55-year-old man and his 32-year-old wife were each charged with one count of failing to self-isolate for 14 days and one count of failing to act in a manner consistent with their declarations upon arriving in Yukon.

The allegations against them have not been proven in court and the tickets indicate the couple can challenge them.

Ekaterina Baker did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting comment. An attempt was made to speak to Rodney Baker through a request to Great Canadian Gaming, which accepted his resignation Sunday, after he couldn’t be reached.

An information circular published by Great Canadian Gaming says Baker earned a total of about $6.7 million in compensation from the company in 2019. The company owns and operates more than 20 casinos in B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Baker became president in 2010 and CEO the following year.

Spokesperson Chuck Keeling said in a statement on Monday that the company does not comment on personnel matters, but it complies with guidelines from public health authorities in all jurisdictions.

“Our overriding focus as a company is doing everything we can to contribute to the containment of COVID-19,” he said.