Employer Covid-19 Vaccination Policy - Discriminates Against African-Caribbean Ethnicity

 

Ontario Human Rights Commission Fact Sheet #1: The Human Rights Code

• Ethnic origin – social, cultural or religious practices drawn from a common past
• Ancestry – family descent
• Place of origin – country or region

If you were born in or have a background of black Caribbean, you have likely been exposed to using natural remedies to heal illnesses even if as simple as the famous honey, lemon, and rum mixture for cold symptoms. Many may recall the boiling of a variety of bushes or spices to calm or regulate symptoms of various illnesses. Others may remember the jars of plants and herbs soaking in the cupboard for future use to heal health issues that may arise. Using natural remedies to prevent and heal illness in the place of western medicine is a cultural practice that has been passed on from generation to generation tracing back to the motherland of Africa. A percentage of us have adopted these cultural practices of our ancestors and use natural remedies to prevent and heal illnesses today. A percentage of us avoid the use of pain killers, cough syrups, prescription drugs/ointments, and/or any other chemically engineered medicines altogether as they often cause more harm than good. I am included in this percentage and in accordance to my cultural traditions, refuse the chemical-laced Covid-19 vaccination as protection against Covid-19.

According to the Ontario Human Rights Code and the definitions outlined in the above Fact Sheet, I have the right to protection from discrimination against the prohibited grounds of Ethnic Origin, Ancestry, and Place of Origin. However, my employer has confirmed that their Covid-19 Policy only allows exemptions on the grounds of creed and medical exemptions. This has put me in a situation where I am being pressured to abandon my cultural heritage or else suffer reprisal and/or be at risk of termination. This is a direct infringement of my rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code.  

I am writing this to raise awareness to the injustices resulting from the Government of Canada's vaccine mandate. We must see that history is repeating itself in that the Government of Canada is allowing Canadians to be stripped of their rights and freedoms. As in our history, injustices must be met with protests. We must fight for our rights.

  

24-Oct-21 Update; My employer has deemed my cultural practice as a personal choice and denied exemption with the reason that the Human Rights Commission has directed to only allow exemptions based on Creed (or medical). I have contacted the Human Rights Commission to confirm if they have directed to only provide exemptions for the human right of creed even if it results in discrimination under the grounds of another human right.