The CEO of a Canadian casino company resigned from his job after he and his wife were accused of impersonating motel employees to receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for residents of a remote community.
The couple, identified as Rodney and Ekaterina Baker, from Vancouver, arrived in the city of Whitehorse on January 19 and were quarantined for 14 days.
Instead, they chartered a private plane to Beaver Creek, a small community of less than 125 people in Yukon, Canada, on Thursday, where a mobile vaccination clinic was administering the first dose of Modern vaccine to residents, from according to the CBC television network in Canada.
The media reported that rural Yukon communities have priority for the vaccine because many residents live hours away from a hospital and do not have adequate resources to deal with a possible coronavirus outbreak.
Yukon Community Services Minister John Streicker said the Bakers pretended to be new employees at a local motel so they could get the vaccines. They raised the suspicion that they were not from the area when they asked for a ride to the airport shortly after receiving the vaccines, he said.
“People said, ‘Well, why would you go to the airport?’ “Streicker told CBC.
Members of the vaccination clinic learned that the couple was not an employee of the motel and authorities were contacted. The Bakers were later tracked at the airport in preparation for leaving the territory, the agency said.
Streicker said in a statement on Tuesday that he was outraged by the couple’s actions.
“Reports claim that these individuals were misleading and violated emergency measures for their own benefit, which is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during a public health crisis,” he said.
The husband and wife were accused of violating the Yukon Civil Emergency Measures Act after authorities said they did not isolate themselves and adhered to travel restrictions. They face a maximum fine of $ 500 per charge, six months in prison or both, according to CBC. They have 30 days to pay the fine or plead not guilty and request a trial.
The Bakers could not be found immediately on Tuesday and it is not clear whether they got a lawyer.
White River First Nation, whose government office is located in Beaver Creek, condemned the couple’s actions and said the charges were very mild.
“The WRFN is calling on the Yukon government, as well as the RCMP, to seek a more just punishment. It is important that the penalty seriously discourages any such behavior in the future,” the office said in a statement.
The nation’s chief, Angela Demit, said the Bakers’ “selfish” actions put their elderly at risk.
“We implore all Canadians to respect the vaccination implantation process and not to take similar measures,” said Demit. “While we understand that many want to be vaccinated immediately, it is not appropriate to circumvent established rules and approach our community in this way. WRFN was selected for vaccines because of our remoteness, elderly and high-risk population, as well as limited access to healthcare . “
Rodney Baker worked for Great Canadian Gaming, which has more than 20 casinos across Canada, and his wife is an aspiring actress.
Great Canadian said Rodney Baker resigned as president and CEO on Sunday.
“As a company, Great Canadian takes health and safety protocols extremely seriously, and our company strictly adheres to all directives and guidelines issued by public health authorities in each jurisdiction where we operate. Any actions of this type that are contrary to fundamental values company, failing to comply with the GCGC’s strict travel policies, and ensuring that the company and its employees follow all health guidelines and guidelines, will not be tolerated, “said the company.
