The transcript for this witness testimony is currently in production by our volunteers. It will be available soon here on this page and as a downloadable PDF.

Summary

Rick McKay provides compelling testimony about his daughter’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and the profound impact of government mandates on her life. His daughter, a high-achieving student athlete who was 13 years old when the pandemic began, experiences severe disruption to her social, athletic, and academic life. Despite being multilingual, excelling in volleyball, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, and martial arts, she faces exclusion from activities due to vaccine passport requirements. The family’s decision to decline vaccination, based on their naturopathic health philosophy and concerns about the rushed vaccine development, results in discrimination and social isolation. Rick describes how his daughter could no longer attend restaurants, sports events, or social gatherings, with approximately 80% of her peer group receiving the vaccine while she did not. The mask mandates particularly affect her participation in band class, where she has to cut holes in masks to play instruments. Her pre-existing social anxiety, which the family was addressing through occupational therapy, worsens significantly during this period. However, Rick emphasizes his daughter’s remarkable resilience and recovery. Now 19 years old, she works in the service industry, attends university studying criminal justice and Indigenous studies, and has largely overcome her social anxiety. Rick attributes her recovery to strong family support, guidance from like-minded friends, and the foundation of love and values instilled by her parents. He expresses deep concern about government overreach and advocates for personal freedom, parental rights, and a return to common-sense governance that prioritizes citizens’ well-being over corporate interests.

Credentials

Rick McKay is a devoted father from Manitoba who advocates for natural health approaches and parental rights. He shares his family’s experience navigating the pandemic while supporting his daughter through challenging times. Rick McKay testifies about how COVID-19 mandates severely impacted his teenage daughter’s mental health and social development. He describes how vaccine passport requirements led to discrimination and isolation from peers, while mask mandates and restrictions disrupted her athletic and academic pursuits. Despite these challenges, his daughter has shown remarkable resilience and is now pursuing criminal justice studies at university.\n\nRick McKay is a caring father residing in the Duck Mountain area near Swan River, Manitoba. Together with his wife of 40 years, who is a naturopathic healer, they have raised their daughter with values centered on freedom of choice, natural wellness, and personal responsibility. As herbalists and advocates for alternative healing methods, the McKay family has always prioritized holistic approaches to health and well-being. Rick’s daughter, who came into their lives 20 years into their marriage, has been raised with strong foundations in athletics, languages, and community service. She is of Métis ancestry and has shown exceptional dedication to social causes, including advocacy for missing and murdered Indigenous women through her poetry and academic pursuits.