Health crisis a ‘plandemic’ La Broquerie's skeptical reeve expresses doubts about COVID, says restrictions to slow virus spread infringement on rights By: Malak Abas Posted: 7:00 PM CST Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 Last Modified: 10:25 PM CST Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/11/2020 (1511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba reeve has unmasked his conspiracy-laden skepticism about the validity of COVID-19 just as health officials moved his community to “critical” on the pandemic-response scale.

RM of La Broquerie Reeve Lewis Weiss used the word “plandemic” in an interview with the Free Press Friday, implying the deadly global health crisis was orchestrated by people in power.

“It’s almost like it’s been planned out, and maybe it didn’t get as bad as they hoped it would, so they’re just playing it like it did,” Weiss said. “It’s a terrible thing.”

The community of about 6,000 people located southeast of Steinbach is in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region, all of which will join the Winnipeg metropolitan area at the code-red level of infection-suppression protocols Monday.

The tightened restrictions include mask-wearing in indoor public spaces.

Weiss, who has not been wearing a mask, said that the critical response from the province was “highly unlikely” to change his views on the issue, and he would continue to leave his face uncovered, if possible.

He said, however, that residents should do whatever gives them peace of mind and makes them feel safe.

“I told some of my council members, when we talked about masks, I said if I’m ever forced to wear a mask, I’ll probably just wear a snowmobile helmet,” he joked.

Reporting on Wednesday’s council meeting — three councillors wore masks and the other three joined Weiss without face coverings — SteinbachOnline quoted the reeve saying he does not believe masks are effective and has not worn one since the pandemic began, even when he enters grocery stores where, under code-orange restrictions, it has been mandatory.

“Who am I affecting, by me not wearing a mask? I am not putting anybody in jeopardy because I am not sick,” he said.

Weiss told the Free Press Friday that COVID-19 restrictions are an infringement on people’s rights, and said while he believed case numbers were attached to real illnesses, he had doubts about COVID-19’s validity, suggesting a different diagnosis could be more accurate.

Weiss operates an auto scrap yard in the community and did not indicate any previous medical training.

He has faced some pushback from local residents, including one post on social media comparing him to U.S. president Donald Trump because of a “blatant disrespect for public health.” The same post, calling the quotes attributed to Weiss on SteinbachOnline “disgusting,” has been shared more than 20 times.

Weiss, however, said he had received support from many people who feel the same way he does.

Meanwhile, in Morris, which is also in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region, Mayor Scott Crick said the message hasn’t changed for him since March: take care of yourself and your family, practise hygiene guidelines, and wear a mask.

“It’s not like we’re asking 18 year olds to get in a landing craft and go march on the beach on D-Day to get shot at,” he said. “Just wear a mask. Even if you don’t like wearing a mask, what’s the worst that can happen?”

Crick wouldn’t comment on remarks made by another leader in the region, but said he felt unsubstantiated claims had no place in spaces where he shares COVID-19 information with Morris residents, including social media.

“If people choose to believe those things, that’s their choice, but they also have to understand within our society, freedom and rights also come with responsibilities,” he said.

In situations where people may be faced with opinions about COVID-19 they fear may be incorrect or harmful, Crick said it was important to engage in the “challenge” of working through people’s anger and focus on positive communication.

“Don’t draw yourself into a camp. If people have an opinion, and you want them to substantiate it, never lose empathy,” he said.

The responsibility of those leading small communities, Crick said — and any community in the face of a public-health crisis — is providing clear, concise and scientifically proven facts to constituents.

“As the mayor of my community, I can’t take responsibility for every individual’s actions, but I can take responsibility to try to get what I think is important information out in front of people,” he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_

Malak Abas
Reporter

Malak Abas is a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press.

   Read full biography