Canadian couple who received Aboriginal vaccine face jail time | Canada

A millionaire Canadian couple who have secretly traveled to a remote community to receive a coronavirus vaccine for vulnerable and elderly Indigenous residents could now face jail time for breaking public health rules.

Casino manager Rodney Baker and his wife Ekaterina Baker, an actress, were widely convicted after it emerged that they had chartered a plane to a remote community in the Yukon Territory, where they impersonated for local motel workers to receive the vaccine.

They were fined CAN $ 2,300 (US $ 1,800) for violating the Yukon Civil Emergency Measures Act, but community leaders argued that the penalty would be insignificant for the wealthy couple: Baker resigned as casino manager on Sunday, but records show he made a C profit of $ 45.9 million on stock options in the past 13 months.

Amid growing outrage, the Yukon Minister of Community Services announced on Wednesday that the couple’s tickets had been suspended and served with a notice to appear in court. If found guilty, they could serve up to six months in prison.

“I have to say I am outraged by this selfish behavior. All of us Yukoners are outraged, ”Minister John Streicker told reporters on Wednesday. “I find it disturbing that people choose to endanger their compatriots in this way.

The bakers are each accused of failing to self-isolate for 14 days and failing to act in a manner consistent with their statements upon arrival in the Yukon. They are due in court in Whitehorse on May 4.

Streicker confirmed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are also investigating the couple’s actions.

A mobile immunization team has been dispatched to Beaver Creek, due to its limited health care and elderly population, many of whom belong to the White River First Nation.

Streicker said First Nation members felt “violated” by the couple’s behavior, which also prompted territory officials to change vaccine eligibility criteria. Anyone whose health card issued outside the territory will need to show proof of residence, he said.

Streicker said he heard the couple tried to apologize to the First Nation.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller joined the chorus of critics saying, “I understand these people are rich and I won’t tell them what to do with their money, but, you know, maybe be that repairs are due at some level.