BC Conservative Leader Says COVID Mandate Was About Controlling the Population

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks during a news conference in Richmond, B.C., on July 30, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said the vaccine mandates seemed to be more about shaping public opinion and controlling the population.

Rustad made the comments in a video interview posted on July 23 by the B.C. Public Service Employees for Freedom which opposes vaccine mandates. The video was publicized on Sept. 23 by the Conservatives’ political rival NDP on social media amid the provincial election campaign.