Amidst mounting evidence and personal horror stories that the Ford government is failing to provide fair access to COVID-19 vaccines, the Province is spending precious resources by forcing a court hearing for this Friday, April 16th. The hearing will challenge the provincial government vaccine strategy that fails to provide clear direction and sufficient resources to Public Health Units to take an equity approach – which would include necessary accommodations – to vaccine distribution, as well as to ensure effective data collection. These failures are putting particularly vulnerable populations at increased risk of infection and death.

The legal challenge is being brought by human rights law firm bakerlaw, on behalf of their client David Daneshvar. The challenge alleges that the Province is violating Charter Rights of life, liberty, and security of the person and equal treatment for some people with disabilities, those experiencing poverty and homelessness, and seniors who are homebound or on the wrong side of the digital divide. Vaccine inequity also affects individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

Due to anticipated broad community interest, the hearing may be viewed online here (link).

Additional background information is available here (link).

For more information or to schedule an interview with health policy experts or affected populations, please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca