(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

An Interior Health employee who refused to get vaccinated and then claimed he was discriminated against because of his religion has lost a BC Human Rights Tribunal case after he failed to say what his religion actually was.

According to an Aug. 12 BC Human Rights Tribunal decision, Craig Thompson — who worked at an unidentified long-term care facility operated by Interior Health — was fired in late 2021 because he hadn't gotten vaccinated for COVID-19.

The decision said he originally "expressed concerns" about his ability to give Interior Health "informed consent," but then weeks later asked for a form to apply for a religious exemption.

However, the Public Health Order only gave exemptions for health reasons and after not getting vaccinated Thompson was fired.

He then filed a Human Rights complaint claiming the Interior Health Authority discriminated against him because of his religion.

"I hold my religion and spirituality in high regard," Thompson said in the decision.

However, he failed to say what his religion was, or how it was connected to his refusal to get vaccinated. 

Thompson incorrectly stated that the vaccine contains aborted fetal cells (the vaccines were tested using cell lines that decades ago were made from an aborted fetus) but failed to connect his erroneous information with his religion.

"(Thompson does) not identify his religion or connect the belief that he must reject the COVID-19 vaccine because he thought it contained aborted fetal cells with any particular religious belief held by him," the Tribunal said.

Thompson said he was given an ultimatum: to get vaccinated or lose his job.

"This forced me to choose between my deeply held beliefs, my health, and my livelihood-an unfair and discriminatory ultimatum," he said.

However, the Human Rights Tribunal said he hadn't identified what his "deeply held beliefs" were or how they are connected with his religion.

"I am satisfied that there is no reasonable prospect on the materials before me of Mr. Thompson proving a sincerely held religious belief," the Tribunal ruled.

Ultimately, the Tribunal dismissed his case.

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