OTTAWA – Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu apologizes for comments she made about the COVID-19 vaccination and the risk associated with the virus.
Gladu said the remarks she made on Sunday in CTV’s question period, opposing disclosure of vaccine status and questioning the severity of the virus, were “inappropriate.”
“Upon reflection, I recognize how dangerous it is to share misinformation about the severity of COVID-19 and the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. I withdraw these comments in their entirety, ”a statement read.
“I apologize wholeheartedly to Canadians. I also apologize to my caucus colleagues and my leader for the distraction my comments have created. “
Gladu has been the face of the new “civil liberties caucus” to defend the rights of the unvaccinated.
During the interview, she compared COVID-19 to polio disease that spread in the first half of the 20th century, but said the new coronavirus does not pose the same “frequency of risk.”
“In terms of risk, the people who contracted polio, a lot of them died and a lot of them were paralyzed, and that’s not the same frequency of risk that we see with COVID-19… I’m just getting information from medical experts who talk about relative risk. I am not a doctor myself.
At the height of the polio epidemic in Canada in 1953, there were almost 9,000 cases and 500 deaths from coast to coast. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been 1.74 million cases and 29,192 deaths in Canada.
She also challenged the vaccination warrants and the vaccination disclosure.
“People have to reveal it. And that’s another question we need to talk about, because what’s the next step? And then, will you be required to disclose your medical history? She said in question period.
In response to a question about vaccine mandates and the support of various medical organizations for this type of public health directive, Gladu said the new intra-party caucus will be looking at various sources of information.
“Well I think there are multiple sources of data and part of the job of this caucus is to look at all the different data, sift through it and come up with some reasonable solutions to make sure that everything the world is safe and everyone’s freedoms are protected, ”she said.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said Monday Gladu’s comments were “inappropriate” and unnecessary at a time when politicians should create a sense of certainty, without causing further confusion.
“There is a big difference between standing up for your constituents who may need reasonable accommodation and creating confusion over public health measures. This is a prime example of why MPs of all stripes should let professionals, public health officials, doctors answer questions about the effectiveness of vaccines, ”he said.
Gladu echoed this sentiment in her statement on Tuesday.
“Vaccines are a safe and effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 and prevent serious illness. I encourage all Canadians who are able to get vaccinated. When it comes to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, it should be doctors and public health experts who advise Canadians, not politicians, ”she said.
Conservative MPs Leslyn Lewis and Dean Allison also made comments questioning the effectiveness of childhood immunizations and criticizing vaccine passports.
When asked if it was time for O’Toole to bring the Conservative caucus closer to this issue, the leader said his team would deal with cases where MPs fail to speak responsibly about vaccines.
“We have a leadership role as elected representatives in our community,” he said Monday.
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