Witness Testimony

Elodie Cossette testified that she worked for 10 years as a direct care support worker in a Saskatchewan group home for adults with disabilities. She stated that she observed efforts by management to encourage or pressure clients to receive COVID-19 vaccination despite initial resistance. When her employer implemented a policy requiring vaccination or testing by October 30, 2021, she declined vaccination, citing a prior autoimmune skin condition she associated with a flu vaccine and concerns about client consent. Although she was granted a religious exemption from vaccination, she was required to undergo regular testing, which she refused. Her employment was terminated on October 30, 2021.
Cossette testified that she appealed the denial of Employment Insurance benefits through four levels and was ultimately unsuccessful. She described financial hardship, including drawing from retirement savings and attempting to start her own business. She characterized the EI denial as a form of institutional segregation. Shortly after her termination, she participated in a peaceful protest at the Saskatchewan legislature and stated that subsequent media coverage underreported attendance.
She further testified that two vaccinated family members experienced liver failure and later died, events she associated with vaccination. She also described contracting COVID-19 and reported self-administering ivermectin, antibiotics, and nebulizer treatments, stating that she recovered after approximately 10 to 12 days with lingering symptoms. Cossette concluded that public messaging stigmatized unvaccinated individuals and that institutional responses caused lasting financial and relational strain.