Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls is standing by his convictions, and it has cost him.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced this week Conservative MPP’s would have to be vaccinated or they would be kicked out of the Tory caucus. Nicholls refused, so he is now sitting as an Independent in the legislature.
“For personal reasons, together with my wife Diane of 44 years, I made the personal decision not to inoculate with the COVID-19 vaccine,” Nicholls says. “I took the Premier at his word that vaccination is a choice, and that all Ontarians have a constitutional right to make such a choice.”
Nicholls added under no circumstances should he or any other Ontarian, be forced or coerced to do something against their will.
He says the pandemic and the government’s response has taken a great toll on people, from both a mental health and economic standpoint.
“I’ve watched members of my own family lose their entire livelihood and suffer tremendous tolls to their mental health. I voiced my concerns about our policy privately to the Premier and to the Ontario PC Caucus, but under no circumstances will I, nor should any Ontarian, be forced or coerced to do something against their will.”
Nicholls has represented the riding of Chatham-Kent-Leamington since 2011.
Only one other Conservative MPP did not get vaccinated but Christina Mitas of Scarborough Centre has been granted a medical exemption.