Ontario health care workers have launched a $170 million class-action lawsuit against the provincial government and Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, challenging the legality of vaccine mandates implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by the United Health Care Workers of Ontario (UHCWO), targets Directive 6—a 2021 public health order requiring hospitals and health care providers to enforce COVID-19 vaccination policies. It claims the directive infringed on privacy, undermined personal freedoms, and coerced workers into medical decisions under threat of job loss.
The lead plaintiff, nurse Lisa Wolfs, alleges her dismissal after 16 years of service violated her employment contract and caused significant emotional and economic distress. The lawsuit accuses the province of negligence, arguing the mandate lacked sufficient evidence of efficacy in preventing virus spread and ignored potential vaccine risks.
The class action, currently awaiting certification, could represent thousands of unionized health care workers across Ontario, regardless of vaccination status or employment outcome. If successful, it may set a legal precedent for addressing workplace policies enacted during the pandemic.
UHCWO has also filed a direct claim for a non-union member and retained Sheikh Law to represent the plaintiffs. Damages sought include $170 million for pain and suffering, breach of contract, punitive damages, and lost income. The Ontario health ministry has not yet responded to the allegations.
This case highlights growing tensions around pandemic-era policies and their long-term implications for workers’ rights and public health governance.
NOTE: There are a few postings re Sheikh Law on my blog. In this one, Mr. Sheikh explains the difference between American and Canadian law on Pharma liability for damage done by their products. Mr. Sheikh did not accept that Canadian law was necessarily the same as American law. He went the extra mile; he was right.