Nicholls booted from caucus over vaccine status

By Mark Ribble

TORONTO — Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls will now sit as an independent MPP for the remainder of his term.

Nicholls was one of two Conservative MPPs named last week who had failed to meet Premier Doug Ford’s 5 pm deadline, Thursday, August 19, to provide either proof of vaccination against the virus or a medical exemption from a doctor or registered nurse.

Just prior to the 5 pm deadline, Nicholls conducted a live media session where he made his views clear.

“I made the personal decision not to inoculate with the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said. “I took the Premier at his word that all Ontarians have a constitutional right to make such a choice.”

Nicholls says he was contacted earlier in the week by a Conservative official who told him, in no uncertain terms, that he had to get vaccinated or face expulsion.

He remained steadfast in his decision.

“Under no circumstances should I, or any Ontarian, be forced or coerced into getting this vaccine,” he said.

He continued that members of his family had lost their livelihood through the pandemic and said that vaccinated people can spread the virus as easily as unvaccinated people.

MPP Rick Nicholls at the opening for the Leamington Regional Food Hub on August 19.

Sun photo

As of 5 pm, Ford made the decision to oust Nicholls from the PC caucus.

“As a consequence, he is no longer a sitting member of the PC caucus and will not be permitted to seek re-election as a PC candidate,” Ford said.

Nicholls vows to continue to work for his constituents, but will be doing so without his connection to the party in power in Ontario.

He will also give up his place as the Deputy Speaker of the House. He’s been the elected Member of Provincial Parliament in Chatham-Kent Leamington since 2011 and has served as a member of several key committees in the Ford government.

The other MPP in question, Scarborough Centre’s Christina Mitas, provided a medical exemption signed by a physician, just prior to the deadline and remains a part of the PC caucus.