Witness Testimony

Steven Setka testified that prior to the pandemic he was part of a close-knit extended family in Winnipeg that gathered regularly for holidays, sporting activities, and social events. As the pandemic progressed and he chose not to be vaccinated, divisions emerged within his extended family. He stated that some households no longer invited him to gatherings, and that vaccinated members were welcomed while unvaccinated members were excluded. He described long-term damage to family relationships and feelings of ostracization tied to vaccination status and differing views on government restrictions.
Setka also described his experience at Oasis Church during the implementation of vaccine passport policies. He met with church leadership to express concern about separating congregants by vaccination status. At a Christmas Eve service, he attended the designated section for undeclared individuals and testified that he was the only person seated in that segregated area while approximately 1,000 attended the main service. He subsequently left the church and joined another congregation that he said emphasized personal autonomy and Charter freedoms.
Professionally, Setka testified that travel bans and flight mandates prevented him from attending work conventions in Canada and the United States, requiring him and his business partner to drive long distances to fulfill obligations. He stated that prolonged isolation, living alone during portions of lockdown, and exclusion from social and professional networks led to significant feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and depression. He expressed the view that pandemic policy should have emphasized individual autonomy, personal responsibility, and risk choice rather than enforced restrictions.