Rodney and Ekaterina Baker charged after flying to remote Canadian town of Yukon to receive Covid-19 vaccine, officials say

Yukon’s Secretary of Community Services John Streicker said the couple showed up last Thursday at a mobile clinic in Beaver Creek, home to an indigenous community.

One of them presented a health card in British Columbia, the other had one from Ontario, Streicker said in a statement.

The bakers were not charged for obtaining the vaccine. They were previously accused of failing to comply with quarantine requirements after arriving in Canadian territory.

According to an impeachment document, the Bakers are from Vancouver, British Columbia, southeast of the Yukon area.

“I am outraged at this selfish behavior and am concerned that people would choose to endanger fellow Canadians in this way,” said Streicker. Reports allege that these individuals were fraudulent and violated emergency measures for their own benefit, which is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during a public health crisis.

CNN was unable to reach the Bakers for comment on Tuesday.

Married couple posed as local motel workers, reports say

According to Canada’s vaccine guidelines, indigenous communities are one of the priority groups for vaccinations against Covid-19. They are also often disproportionately affected by the novel coronavirus as they can be located in areas where access to healthcare is limited.
Beaver Creek, Canada’s westernmost community, is home to the White River First Nation. It is only a few miles from the Alaska border.
The Bakers reportedly chartered a plane from the town of Whitehorse in Yukon to Beaver Creek, which has about 125 residents, and claimed they were employees at a local motel, Streicker told CNN news partner CBC.

The Bakers arrived in Yukon from Vancouver on January 19 and, according to authorities, would isolate themselves in Whitehorse for 14 days. According to a complaint to the police, they traveled to Beaver Creek on January 21. The trip was not allowed due to quarantine requirements, officials said.

After taking their photos, the pair sparked suspicion in the community by asking for a ride to the airport, Streicker told CNN news partner CBC.

And people said, ‘Well, why would you go to the airport?’ Streicker said.

After an investigation, the couple found themselves at the Whitehorse airport, and Yukon officials told CNN the couple had left the area that same day.

Members of the mobile clinic team called the motel and were told the couple did not work there, Streicker told CBC.

CNN reached out to Streicker on Tuesday for comment, but did not hear back.

Traveling to Canada on Covid-19: What to Know Before You Go

As for getting the vaccines, according to Streicker, the British Columbia and Ontario health maps would not necessarily have prevented the Bakers from getting them, as there are many workers from outside the territory in the region.

Rodney, 55, and Ekaterina Baker, 32, were each charged with failing to isolate themselves for 14 days after entering the area and not behave in a manner consistent with the statement provided upon entering the area.

Costs under the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA) can include fines of up to $ 500; up to 6 months in prison; or both, according to Yukon’s orders and directions in Covid-19. The bakers were each fined $ 500 and a surcharge of $ 75 on both counts.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been informed of the situation. The RCMP’s Yukon office said Tuesday it is investigating; it would not answer questions from CNN.

The Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, a hotel and casino company with 25 Canadian properties, told CNN that while it did not comment on personnel issues related to former employees, as of January 24, Rodney Baker was no longer the president and CEO of Great Canadian and is ” no longer affiliated in any way with the company. “

“As a company, Great Canadian takes health and safety protocols very seriously, and our company strictly follows all guidelines and guidelines issued by the public health authorities in every jurisdiction where we operate,” the statement added.

The White River First Nation said it is “particularly concerned about the callous nature of the individuals’ actions, as they were a blatant disregard for the rules protecting our community during this unprecedented global pandemic.”

CNN’s Paula Newton and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.

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