TORONTO — Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller has a simple message for anyone thinking of following the lead of the Vancouver couple who allegedly flew to a remote community in Yukon to jump the COVID-19 vaccination queue: Don’t.
“There’s extreme scarcity of the doses and some people, for whatever reason, [are] trying to game the system,” Miller said Wednesday at a press conference.
“You shouldn’t do it. It’s dumb. It’s wrong. It’s unfair.”Rod Baker and Ekaterina Baker are each facing fines of $1,150 for allegedly failing to self-isolate and failing to behave in a manner consistent with the declarations they made upon their arrival in Yukon, according to court documents obtained by CTV News. Rod Baker has also resigned as CEO of casino operator Great Canadian Gaming.
The allegations are tied to claims by government officials in Yukon that a couple chartered a plane to Beaver Creek, Yukon, and claimed to be local workers in the community in order to obtain vaccinations. With remote communities prioritized for early vaccination, Yukon has already started to roll out doses to anybody who wants them in places such as Beaver Creek, which is located near the Yukon-Alaska border and had a population of 93 in the 2016 census.
Most people who enter Yukon for non-essential reasons have to provide a 14-day self-isolation plan and complete a declaration form with details about their circumstances. Officials in Yukon have said the couple filled out declarations, but did not follow the territory’s isolation rules.
APTN reported Tuesday that the couple told staff at the vaccination clinic they were working at a local motel. After receiving their vaccinations, the couple asked for a ride to the airport, raising suspicions among Beaver Creek residents who know the airport is rarely used by locals.
Source: ctvnews.ca
Monday, May 4, 2026
