Witness Testimony

Chantel Barreda testified that she was a Grade 7 teacher at a Lac La Ronge Indian Band school when a workplace COVID-19 vaccination passport policy was introduced in September 2021 with short notice. She stated that the policy required vaccination or termination and that she chose not to comply based on her view that the vaccine was experimental and inconsistent with changing definitions. She was placed on leave without pay effective September 20 and received a termination letter in October after the compliance deadline passed. She reported that she contracted COVID-19 during that period and recovered, which she described as providing natural immunity.
Barreda testified that she applied for Employment Insurance but was denied benefits and that her complaints to human rights bodies were also rejected. She stated that her daughter, who attended the same school, was withdrawn and enrolled in online schooling for the remainder of the year. She described her daughter experiencing depression and isolation, and stated that the family’s mental health declined amid unemployment, social restrictions, and financial uncertainty.
She further testified that she holds both a Bachelor and Master of Education and a valid Saskatchewan teaching certificate but has faced difficulty securing employment, in part due to required disclosure of termination on standardized education application forms. She reported experiencing social isolation, loss of friendships, and temporary unemployment, later obtaining only short-term contract work. She concluded by calling for leadership accountability, critical thinking, and transparency in institutional decision-making.