For Immediate Release: May 23, 2025
VICTORIA, BC – More time is needed to hear arguments in the certification hearing for two class action law suits launched on behalf of public servants and healthcare workers who claim they were harmed by their employers’ COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The two law suits were filed by representative plaintiff Jason Baldwin on behalf of thousands of unionized BC Public Service employees harmed by the B.C. Government’s 2021-2023 proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate, and by representative plaintiffs Jed Ferguson and Terri Perepolkin on behalf of thousands of health care workers and ambulance-service paramedics harmed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s COVID-19 vaccination orders. All three plaintiffs were fired from their jobs because of the mandates, despite having exemplary service records.
The application for certification is being heard by Judge Emily Burke in BC Supreme Court and was scheduled to run from April 28 to May 1. The hearing concluded before the plaintiffs’ counsel completed oral submissions. Counsel for both the plaintiffs and defendants agree another ten days are needed to hear all arguments; arrangements are being made for new court dates to be scheduled toward the end of 2025 in either Victoria or Vancouver.
“It was fabulous to finally have our day in court, but disappointing justice takes so long,” said representative plaintiff Terri Perepolkin. “COVID-19 vaccines didn’t prevent illness or transmission, and should never have been a condition of employment.”
“Informed consent is the law,” said representative plaintiff Jason Baldwin. “The 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate caused a lot of harm. I’m just one of many public servants who want to hold our employer accountable for what they did to us.”
The representative plaintiffs for both actions have engaged Umar Sheikh of Sheikh Law to represent them.
The representative plaintiffs are members of the BCPS Employees for Freedom Society (BCPSEF) and United Health Care Workers of BC Society (UHCWBC), respectively. BCPSEF was formed to support medical privacy and bodily autonomy for civil servants and all British Columbians. UHCWBC was formed with similar objectives. Both Societies are supporting the plaintiffs by helping raise awareness and funds to cover their legal costs.
www.bcpsforfreedom.com/legalaction
www.unitedtogether.ca