Witness Testimony

Terry LaChappelle, a retired Canadian Armed Forces member with over 21 years of service and subsequent civilian employment at CFB Trenton, testified that federal vaccine mandate policies required public service employees to be vaccinated or be placed on leave without pay. He stated that both he and his spouse were affected by the mandate and, anticipating the financial impact of losing two incomes, chose to resign rather than comply. As a result, they sold their home, downsized significantly, and relocated from Ontario to rural New Brunswick to live solely on his military pension. Lachappelle described the emotional impact of being separated from close family members, including his father and daughter, and characterized the policy as coercive rather than voluntary. He further stated that while he had accepted numerous traditional vaccines throughout his military career, he declined the COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns about safety and what he described as insufficient long-term data.