Ronald McDonald Houses in British Columbia and Yukon, Canada, plan to evict child cancer patients and their parents if they don’t get the COVID-19 shot by the end of January.
“Beginning January 17, 2022, everyone five years and older who are working, staying, or visiting our facilities (both the House at 4567 Heather St, Vancouver and at the Family Room in Surrey Memorial Hospital) must show proof of full vaccination (two doses), in addition to completing our existing screening, unless an Accommodation has been sought and has been explicitly approved and granted by RMH BC in writing,” a letter from RMH British Columbia & Yukon Senior Director of Family Services Leslie Louie states.
Austin Furgason and his wife Lindsey, who are staying in the Vancouver Ronald McDonald house while their 4-year-old son receives treatment for leukemia, are just two of the people who RMH plans to kick out on Jan. 31 unless they get the COVID-19 jab.
In a video posted to Facebook, Furgason confronted a manager in the Vancouver house demanding answers on why the charity is demanding vaccination when the shot clearly doesn’t stop the spread of COVID-19.
“What we’re doing is protecting the safety of everybody in the house,” a RMH worker told Furgason.
“No, you’re not,” he replied. “Because a vaccinated person could still get it and transmit it.”
Furgason explained that the family has lived in the facility for months and isn’t due to leave until later in 2022.
“You’re evicting kids with leukemia, kids who have strokes. Kids with Down syndrome. Do you understand how evil this is?” Furgason asked. “This is just so messed up.”
Furgason told a Canadian news outlet that his son, Jack, is doing “really good” because “God’s been doing miracles for our kid,” but lamented the fact that RMHBC and Canada have decided “segregation” of people based on their vaccination status is the solution to COVID.
“No matter what people’s beliefs are, everyone donates to this place because everyone wants to save dying kids,” he said. “If there was anything left to unite our country, this would have been it. And still, they find a way to segregate us and divide us even more. … I’m broken inside for our country just how fast this has accelerated.”
RMH in Vancouver did not immediately respond to The Federalist’s questions about how many sick kids and their families would be displaced as a result of the policy. The organization did tell a local outlet, however, that it would “work to find alternate housing for families who refuse to get everyone over the age of five vaccinated by the Jan. 31 deadline.”
The RMHBC website states that “all guests and visitors to the House must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.”
“We continue to restrict access to the House and are practicing COVID-19 safety protocols including: screening, temperature checks, physical distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols and mandatory mask wearing in all common spaces,” the message banner on the website’s front page reads. “These measures in addition to an abundance of sanitizer and kindness will help us ensure the safety of everyone at the House.”
The U.S. RMH did not immediately respond to The Federalist’s questions about whether it plans to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate as well.
Authored by Jordan Boyd via The Federalist
The Federalist is an online magazine that covers politics, policy, culture, and religion.
