Despite death threats, B.C. politician with COVID-19 vaccine message says he won't back down

A longtime member of British Columbia's legislature says the "Alberta influence'' is a factor in a part of B.C. where intensive care units can't accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients.

MLA Mike Bernier said proximity to Alberta "set us back from Day 1'' when it comes to some northern residents shunning vaccination.

"It would be the Alberta influence. A good portion of people in Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, the Fort St. John area, are very closely related, whether it be for personal reasons or through work, with Alberta," he said.

"And we've seen the problems in Alberta with a solid message of trying to get people vaccinated until just recently, and the crisis that they're in."

Bernier said some were so angry when B.C. introduced vaccine passports that they posted online messages about shooting him for supporting the policy.

Most residents in the B.C. region aren't anti-vaxxers, said Bernier, a member of the Opposition B.C. Liberal Party.

"They're strong-willed and do not like government intervention. They just want to work and raise their families and are very skeptical of government officials in general telling them what to do," he added.