Some City Councillors are changing their minds about asking for more vaccines, but the move is still going forward.
Current River’s Andrew Foulds is taking back his support for a letter to the province, saying we’re doing better now than some parts of southern Ontario.
“If southern Ontario is in crisis, we’re not safe, because there is mobility in this province whether we like it or not. And so I’m uncomfortable supporting this resolution,” Foulds says.
Council re-voted on the matter Monday night, and Foulds was one of only four who voted not to send the letter. It was approved for a second time.
At-Large Councillor Mark Bentz didn’t change his mind, saying the city isn’t asking to take vaccines away from southern Ontario.
“I think the Mayor’s intent was just to bring notice to the province that, ‘Don’t forget about us.’ I don’t think the resolution is saying, ‘Send us more than we deserve, forget about the hot spots, we come first,'” Bentz points out.
Westfort Councillor Kristen Oliver echoes that idea. She argues Council isn’t being unreasonable with this request.
“I really hope that Council does see value [in this letter], that we’re not saying that southern Ontario lives should be in jeopardy because of everything that’s happening right now,” she points out. “They do need this vaccine, we all need the vaccine, and we’re not asking for anything substantial. We’re just asking for the equality and fairness that this region deserves.”
In the letter to provincial officials, Mayor Bill Mauro argues it doesn’t make sense for the province to keep the Thunder Bay District under lockdown while sending it fewer vaccine doses.
The letter originally got unanimous approval from Councillors on April 19th. On Monday, Foulds, Northwood Councillor Shelby Ch’ng, and At-Large Councillors Peng You and Rebecca Johnson voted against it.
