A copy of a letter sent to Lake Country Mayor James Baker.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

An anti-COVID-19 vaccine letter writer says he sent documents to B.C. mayors including those in the Okanagan because they need to “wake up.”

Joshua Flint said he’s with the Sovereign Republic of British Columbia and mailed those letters as "(mayors) don’t know what they’re doing, they’re committing atrocities really."

Letters were sent to mayors in Vernon, Lake Country and Kelowna this week, demanding them to stop restrictions on social gathering, halt COVID-19 vaccinations and cease mask-wearing orders and threatening criminal charges, which is largely an empty threat.

READ MORE: Threatening letters demand Okanagan mayors ‘cease and desist’ pandemic restrictions, vaccinations

The group has also sent letters of a similar nature to health minister Adrian Dix, the Attorney General of B.C., Minister of Justice in Canada David Lametti and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. They're riddled with conspiracy theories.

Ontario Medical Association experts have said the vaccine safety is heavily scrutinized in clinical trials, and that continues when the vaccine is rolled out into the real world. While mild side effects are expected, experts on the local, provincial, national and international level are on the lookout for adverse reactions that could suggest the need for further evaluation. Health Canada has also said COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

READ MORE: What are the side effects? Is it safe? Doctors answer common COVID vaccine questions

Dr. Henry got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December, to demonstrate the vaccine’s safety and support healthcare workers across the province.

The province’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout began in December to healthcare workers and those who are considered high-risk. Restrictions on social gatherings remain in place at least until Feb. 5, in order to curb the spread of the disease.

If the mayors don’t respond in 10 days, Flint said the group will follow up with a second letter, followed by phone calls and if they receive no response, the mayors will be subpoenaed in a “common law grand jury.” There's no such thing in Canadian common law. Flint has already lined up a "jury" though won't name them, and they’ve been having meetings for the last 10 months.

“We want to win them over, we want to wake them up,” Flint said.

READ MORE: Plan to maintain COVID-19 precautions through the summer

According to the group’s website, the Sovereign Republic of British Columbia is “a De Jure government to replace the De facto Corporation British Columbia masquerading as a constitutional government.” It appears to be connected with the Freemen on the Land movement espoused by David Lindsay, who has been leading anti-mask protests in Kelowna every Saturday.

While Flint attended some of Kelowna’s anti-COVID-19 restriction protests, he said he’s not linked to the organizer.

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