A Lambton County councillor's motion to ask the province to remove all mandatory proof of vaccination requirements, fell on deaf ears Wednesday.
The request, put forward by Warwick Township Mayor Jackie Rombouts, was defeated 15-2.
Before the vote, Rombouts told her fellow councillors that her motion was not about determining the efficacy or safety of the COVID vaccines.
"I'm not against the vaccine at all, and I even volunteered my time to help make sure that everyone who wanted the vaccine was able to get it. I'm grateful that we have had the vaccine to protect the most vulnerable in our population. This motion is about standing up for the people who feel that their voices are not being heard."
The motion also called on the province to return Ontario to a place where everyone is treated as equal.
"We may only be one county, but if passed, this motion will be circulated to all 444 Ontario municipalities for consideration and could be that one pebble in the pond that we need to bring equality back to Ontario," said Rombouts. "I don't want more division -- that is not my intention at all. My intention is to help the people that are suffering right now."
Margaret Bird was the only other councillor to support Rombouts' motion.
"I feel that we've gone from ridiculous to even more ridiculous. During a true pandemic, the virus would be airborne and everywhere, and consistent measures would be adopted without any conflicting or contradictory information, which of course is not happening," said Bird.
Brian White reminded his fellow councillors that since the motion was presented to them, the province has released a framework for ending all mandates by March 2022.
"I think one of the greatest frustrations most people had, from what I've heard, is simply not knowing. And finally, I think for the first time since the pandemic started, we actually know with some certainty what the plan is," said White. "I would hope that is of some comfort to some people."
St. Clair Township Mayor Steve Arnold said he respects a person's choice to not get vaccinated.
"I understand that people are frustrated. They want to have [the province] wide open, they want us to respect the fact that they want to choose not be vaccinated, and that's their choice. But with those choices, you decide not to do certain things."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley had the final say before the vote was called.
"I'm embarrassed for Lambton county that this issue continues to come up, whether it be not supporting masking, fighting back on vaccinations -- the only place in the province where the vaccine bus had issues. And why was that generated? It's by this climate of hate that we're receiving from the anti-vaxxers," said Bradley. "The minority on this, on these comments today, do not support what the public really wants and what the public has come to appreciate -- our public health system."
Bradley said he believes the province's plan is the way forward, adding that he thinks it's a plan that will run into some changes based on the nature of the disease.
To view Wednesday's county council meeting in its entirety, click here.