We welcome Micheal Vonn to talk to us about COVID-19 and returning to the new "normal." Micheal is Chief Executive Officer of PHS Community Services Society, which provides housing, healthcare, harm reduction and health promotion for some of the most vulnerable and under-served people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Victoria. Prior to that, she served as policy director of the BC Civil Liberties Association for more than 15 years.
Micheal shared with us how she views the rule of law in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. She compared the current situation to the war on terror, and how important it is not to end up in a state of exception, where normal rules don’t apply. We also talked about the lack of a vaccine injury compensation program and the need for data, as well as how important it is for scientists and doctors to have space to debate their ideas. Lastly, Micheal talked about the work of PHS with marginalized groups and described how COVID restrictions impact them.
Please note this episode was recorded on May 17, 2021 and new information has emerged relating to topics referred to in the episode. In particular, the federal government is now allowing Canadians who have experienced severe adverse reactions to an approved COVID-19 vaccine to apply for compensation. Check your local government's health guidelines for the most updated information.
If you want to learn more about the rule of law, visit the Law Society’s website at lawsociety.bc.ca. If you liked today’s episode, please subscribe and leave us a review, wherever you get your podcasts. If you have suggestions or comments, send us an email at podcast@lsbc.org