RCMP union ‘concerned’ by B.C. premier’s vaccine passport comments

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — The largest police union in Canada is taking aim at B.C. Premier John Horgan for comments he made about the impending vaccine passport system.

In a statement released Sunday, president of the National Police Federation Brian Sauvé said they were “concerned about Premier Horgan’s recent statement that businesses having difficulty with customers related to vaccine passports should call the police for enforcement.”

Sauvé writes that police across the province are being asked to respond to businesses and individuals in need “more and more with no additional resources or funding.”

On Friday, Horgan was asked about concerns businesses have raised about dealing with customers who may object to showing proof of vaccination come Sept. 13.

Citing how the hospitality and nightlife sectors deal with people who are unruly, Horgan said, “If they have difficulty with patrons they call law enforcement, and that’s what I would expect would happen with respect to the vaccination card as well.”

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According to the union, over 650 B.C. RCMP members have been deployed to the provincial wildfire response, with other members enforcing the Fairy Creek injunction.

“And now the premier wants our already over-stretched members to respond to vaccine passport disputes at restaurants, movie theatres and sporting events,” the statement reads.

The NPF said it will be presenting its pre-budget submission to the province on Sept. 2, which will include calling for an increase in long-term funding for RCMP services.

“Put quite simply, the existing BC Membership cannot continue to effectively respond to an increasing number of calls and deployments without additional officers and resources. It is critically important that Government properly fund both local and provincial policing to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of British Columbians.”

The NPF represents roughly 20,000 RCMP members Canada-wide.