A Canadian millionaire couple who secretly traveled to a remote community to receive a coronavirus vaccine for elderly and vulnerable indigenous residents can now face prison sentences for breaking public health rules.
Casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife, Ekaterina Baker, an actress, were widely convicted after it was reported that they had chartered a plane to a remote community in Yukon territory, where they impersonated employees of a local motel to receive the vaccine.
They were fined C $ 2,300 (US $ 1,800) for violating the Yukon Civil Emergency Measures Act, but community leaders argued that the penalty would be negligible for the wealthy couple: Baker resigned as casino executive on Sunday, but records show that he made a 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 they had received a notice to appear in court. If convicted, they face up to six months in prison.
“I must say that I am outraged by this selfish behavior. All of us, like Yukoners, are outraged, ”Minister John Streicker told reporters on Wednesday. “I find it disturbing that people choose to put other Canadians at risk that way.”
Each of the Bakers is accused of not being isolated for 14 days and of not acting in a manner consistent with his statements upon arriving at the Yukon. They are due to appear in a Whitehorse court on May 4.
Streicker confirmed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is also investigating the couple’s actions.
A mobile vaccination team was sent to Beaver Creek, because of its limited health care and elderly population, many of whom belong to the White River First Nation.
Streicker said members of the First Nation said they felt “violated” by the couple’s behavior, which also prompted the authorities in the territory to change the eligibility criteria for the vaccine. Whoever has a health card issued outside the territory will have to prove residence, he said.
Streicker said he heard that the couple had made any attempt to apologize to the First Nation.
Canada’s indigenous services minister, Marc Miller, joined the chorus of criticism, saying: “I understand that these people are rich and I’m not going to tell them what to do with their money, but, you know, they may be due repairs at some level ”.