The Justice Centre announced today that it will file legal challenges to the vaccination policies of the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and Saskatchewan Polytech (Sask Poly).

On November 19, 2021, the Justice Centre sent Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Saskatchewan letters demanding that they reverse their policies requiring all staff and students be vaccinated by January 1, 2022.

The Justice Centre notes that on December 1, 2021, Sask Poly reversed its “vaccinated only” policy and now requires unvaccinated staff and students to comply with testing three times a week at their own expense.  The fact that Sask Poly is imposing the costs of such testing on individuals is unacceptable. Such testing requirements for students are even greater than the Saskatchewan Government’s requirements for employees of its ministries. Sask Poly has also failed to recognize the compelling scientific evidence of natural immunity for those who have already recovered from Covid-19 and have proof of antibodies.

“Testing costs, which could exceed $200 per week, mean that only the wealthy and privileged can bear the burden,” states Andre Memauri, the Justice Centre’s Saskatoon-based lawyer. “Sask Poly, which has chosen to impose discriminatory testing requirements for staff and students has the ability to acquire these tests at wholesale cost.”

Unless Sask Poly immediately absorbs the testing costs and recognizes natural immunity, the Justice Centre will commence legal proceedings against Sask Poly in the Court of Queen’s Bench. The Justice Centre will also commence legal action against the U of S for refusing unvaccinated students.

For its part, the U of S has to date maintained its “vaccinated only” going into the winter term, relying on the claim that ‘vaccination is the single most effective public health measure against Covid-19’, despite emerging scientific literature which states otherwise, and despite reports of at least one student being hospitalized after getting vaccinated solely to continue her education at the U of S.

“Education is an essential service and at this point, with the emerging data and scientific literature, Universities have no valid justification for discriminating against students based on their private medical choices,” says Mr. Memauri.