Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall was removed from Parliament on Friday for violating COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Wagantall, a Member of Parliament who has represented the Yorkton-Melville Saskatchewan constituency since 2015, sat in the House this week despite not providing vaccination evidence.
The Board of Internal Economy, which establishes the administrative rules of Parliament, has decreed that all persons in the House of Commons must prove that they are fully vaccinated.
TARGET | The Conservative MP withdrew from Parliament the reasons for the vaccine rule
The Conservative MP withdrew from Parliament the reasons for the vaccine rule
Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall, who has not revealed her vaccination status against COVID-19, says she left the House of Commons voluntarily and will continue to perform her duties from home.
Wagantall told reporters at a news conference Friday that when she entered the western block of Parliament Hill earlier in the day, she was waiting for some form of action to get her out of the House of Commons.
Wagantall said that after entering the building, the weapons sergeant asked to speak to her in his office. She did not provide details of the conversation, but said that while addressing the House of Commons, Conservative House Leader John Brassard warned her that there could be action to remove it if she left the House of Commons.
“So my goal was not to leave unless they basically forced me to,” he said.
Wagantall said when she left the building to attend a Veterans Affairs Committee meeting at 1 p.m., the gun sergeant escorted her off Parliament Hill to her car. He ended up virtually attending the meeting.
Wagantall, who is also unable to board a plane or train due to vaccination rules, said he has been driving to Ottawa since his trip to Saskatchewan. He has said he has not been in his parliamentary office since November last year.
She did not reveal whether she was vaccinated against COVID-19.
“That’s ridiculous. Ontario is open. My province has been open for a long time,” Wagantall said.
He did not provide many details when asked what his future plans are for attending House of Commons proceedings. She said she and her party will continue to fight to end the vaccination requirement.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep doing my job as best I can, given the circumstances, and yes, from here we’ll see what happens,” Wagantall said.
The Leader of the Opposition House is calling for an end to the vaccine requirement
In a statement to the media, Conservative House Leader John Brassard said Wagantall “has every right to be in the House of Commons.”
He also criticized the Prime Minister’s approach to COVID-19 vaccine mandates beyond Parliament.
“Make no mistake, the restrictions in the House of Commons are in the direction of the Prime Minister,” Brassard said. “I could end these tomorrow if I wanted to. It could also end the restrictions it placed on millions of Canadians who still can’t travel or have lost their jobs.”
Wagantall mentioned several times that he presided over the national prayer breakfast in Ottawa earlier in the week and was close to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at that event.
Brassard pointed to the event as a contradiction.
“[Trudeau] She had no problem sitting next to MP Wagantall at last week’s prayer breakfast, but she would not sit on the other side of her aisle in the House, “he said.” Hypocrisy it’s amazing “.
Cathay Wagantall, left, sits next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the national prayer breakfast on Tuesday, May 31 in Ottawa. (Canadian National Prayer Breakfast / Facebook)
In a statement on the incident, a spokesman for the Speaker of the House of Commons noted the ruling of the Internal Economy Board.
“In order to enter the House of Commons, people must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement applies to anyone who wants to enter the House of Commons, including members and its staff, “the statement said.
He also mentioned that there are medical exemptions for a limited number of cases.
“Reasons for medical exemptions from this requirement must follow the guidelines of the Ontario Ministry of Health document entitled ‘Medical Exemptions for Vaccination Against COVID-19’ and the National Immunization Advisory Committee.” say the statement.