Jennifer McLintock sent a message to Craig Jelinek that said:
Dear Mr. Jelinek,
I am a Canadian Costco member and am very disturbed by your recent policy regarding mandating masks. I have been a Costco member for several years and prior to that used to shop at Costco with my parents membership. So for my family we have been members for close to 40 years. We have benefited from many of the prices and discounts and have always thought well of Costco.
When you first brought in your masking policy it did not concern me. I was free to choose to mask or not. Many shoppers did mask, many did not. Suddenly your company has chosen to institute something that goes beyond the scope of your legal authority.
In Canada we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which clearly defines our freedoms. And we are all covered by the Human Rights.
I do not believe you have given enough consideration to your position. You and none of your staff to my knowledge are medical personnel, neither do you have access to my medical records and I have never given you permission to obtain them. I am therefore stunned that you would be giving me instructions on wearing a medical mask which violates Section 2 a and b and Section 7of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 2 clearly gives me the following fundamental freedoms in Canada a) freedom of conscience and religion b) freedom or thought, belief, opinion and expression, cinluding freedom of the press and other media of communication. Section 7 states Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.
You have also broken the BC Human Rights Code Article 7 and 8. When I attempt to enter Costco in Canada and am turned away you open your company and staff up to me lodging a human rights complaints. I am being discriminated against by your store and staff.
Discriminatory publication
7 (1) A person must not publish, issue or display, or cause to be published, issued or displayed, any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that
(a) indicates discrimination or an intention to discriminate against a person or a group or class of persons, or
(b) is likely to expose a person or a group or class of persons to hatred or contempt because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or that group or class of persons.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a private communication, a communication intended to be private or a communication related to an activity otherwise permitted by this Code.
Discrimination in accommodation, service and facility
8 (1) A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,
(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or
(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public because of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or class of persons.
(2) A person does not contravene this section by discriminating
(a) on the basis of sex, if the discrimination relates to the maintenance of public decency or to the determination of premiums or benefits under contracts of life or health insurance, or
(b) on the basis of physical or mental disability or age, if the discrimination relates to the determination of premiums or benefits under contracts of life or health insurance.
You have further broken our membership contract.
How are you going to compensate me?
How are you going to ensure that I am not discriminated against me at your stores in the future?
I will be attempting to enter my local Costco without wearing a mask. I will then be taking legal action against you. I also have the right to take your company to small claims where, if found guilty you can be forced to pay me $35,000. I wonder how many of us will be taking necessary steps to stop your tyrannical actions