PREMIER David Eby on Monday reacting to video of BC Conservative Leader John Rustad saying “so-called vaccine” was not about “trying to stop the spread” but about “control on the population,” slammed Rustad for “always saying something different to different groups.”

Eby said: “We’ve got John Rustad, who says that these are “so-called” vaccines and is promoting the idea that vaccines don’t work when in fact, the COVID vaccines saved so many lives in this province. And a lot of the global economy reopened way earlier than it would have otherwise.”

Eby added: “How will he react to a measles outbreak in British Columbia? What will he say? Will he encourage people to get vaccinated? Measles kills kids. So these are not minor considerations. This is really important for British Columbians to know. He says one thing in a meeting, when he thinks it won’t get out. Then he says another in public. You can’t trust John Rustad. On health policy. On what he says. Because he’s always saying something different to different groups.”

In a private meeting with an anti-vaccine conspiracy group on July 23, Rustad said he regretted taking the “so-called vaccine” and accused Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry of using vaccine requirements for “control on the population.”

Rustad said: “Now, I’ve had three shots of the vaccine. I wish I hadn’t, quite frankly. And it’s one of the things that’s changed in my thinking – the so-called vaccine, the COVID mRNA shots. When I talked to Bonnie Henry about it, I started to realize that it wasn’t so much about, you know, trying to get herd immunity or trying to stop the spread, but it was more around shaping opinion and control on the population.”

Rustad’s meeting was with BC Public Service Employees for Freedom, an organization of former public service employees who believe they were discriminated against for not getting the vaccine. They are attempting to personally sue Henry.

Rustad has consistently promised to fire Henry for her actions during the pandemic. The video has been posted to social media here.

A longer version is available here.

RUSTAD on Monday refused to answer repeated questions from journalists, including:

What would’ve happened if people didn’t get the shots? Are you suggesting that everything would’ve been the same in terms of death and illness rates without widespread vaccinations?

Do you believe in vaccine science?

Do you mind explaining the circumstances around that video?

In relation to why the vaccine had been mandated, you talked about it not being about trying to stop the spread, but it was more around shaping opinion and control on the population. Is that how you feel about the COVID vaccines, and what did you mean by that?

Can you explain to voters why you said you regret getting three doses of the COVID vaccine?