SASKATCHEWAN & OTTAWA — Conservative MP for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Jeremy Patzer wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, Jan. 29 regarding concerns from his constituents surrounding forced isolation in “mandatory quarantine hotels,” stating that he “strongly advise(s) against mandating hotel quarantines for returning Canadians.
His letter begins;
“I am writing you on behalf of numerous constituents who have contacted me expressing concern with the recent news that your government is implementing mandatory hotel quarantines for incoming travellers, until their test results are obtained.”
Until their test results are obtained? Didn’t we just see a Calgary woman get forcefully quarantined in a government facility when returning from business travels in the US?
Nikki Mathis is her name, she produced a negative test for COVID-19 and authorities even refused to tell her family where she was located at the time.
She wrote in a Facebook post that the quarantine requirements changed while she was in the United States. She said originally, the requirements were that you had to quarantine for two days after getting a rapid test when landing in Canada. Regardless, she still believes she should have been able to quarantine at home.
“I believe your government is overstepping its bounds and setting a dangerous precedent.”
Jeremy Patzer, M.P, Cypress Hills—Grasslands
He continues his letter;
“Respectfully sir, I believe your government is overstepping its bounds and setting a dangerous precedent. No Canadian should ever be prevented from entering their own home. That type of control is not indicative of a free and democratic society. As such, I strongly advise against mandating hotel quarantines for returning Canadians.”
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states a Canadian’s mobility rights as such;
- (1) Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.
- (2) Every citizen of Canada and every person who has the status of a permanent resident of Canada has the right
- (a) to move to and take up residence in any province; and
- (b) to pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province.
- 3) The rights specified in subsection (2) are subject to
- (a) any laws or practices of general application in force in a province other than those that discriminate among persons primarily on the basis of province of present or previous residence; and
- (b) any laws providing for reasonable residency requirements as a qualification for the receipt of publicly provided social services.
- (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration in a province of conditions of individuals in that province who are socially or economically disadvantaged if the rate of employment in that province is below the rate of employment in Canada.
“But perhaps you can provide me with evidence to suggest otherwise. Evidence strong enough to rationalize such draconian measures.”
Jeremy Patzer, M.P, Cypress Hills—Grasslands
Patzer finishes his letter;
“Further, there is no reason to believe that incoming travellers quarantining in a hotel would be more effective in curbing COVID-19 than quarantining at home, but perhaps you can provide me with evidence to suggest otherwise. Evidence strong enough to rationalize such draconian measures.”
See the letter below;
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