Wealthy white couple who got vaccines meant for First Nation are fined but not jailed
White River First Nation had sought six months in jail for Canadian millionaires Rodney and Ekaterina Baker
The couple chartered a private plane to Beaver Creek, a tiny Yukon settlement.
Leyland Cecco in Toronto
Wed 16 Jun 2021 17.57 EDT
The millionaire Canadian couple who chartered a private plane to a remote community and jumped the coronavirus vaccine queue to receive doses intended for elderly Indigenous people have been fined C$2,300 but were not sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to breaking public health rules.
The size of the fine imposed on the former casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife, the actor Ekaterina Baker, on Wednesday prompted frustration amid members of the White River First Nation, many of whom wanted the couple to face stiffer repercussions.
On 21 January, the couple chartered a bush plane to the tiny settlement of Beaver Creek, where they deceived locals in order to receive a vaccine. They were apprehended as they tried to board a flight out of the Yukon territory.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Justice Michael Cozens questioned the “appropriateness” of the couple’s decision to phone into the proceedings, rather than appearing by video feed. After a brief recess, the couple appeared by video and were ordered to pay the maximum fine under the Civil Emergency Measures Act.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/16/canada-rodney-ekaterina-baker-vaccines-indigenous
The lovely casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife, the actor Ekaterina Baker
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