Manitoba MLA out as Legislative Assistant to Minister of Health

The Manitoba MLA for Borderland Josh Guenter has been removed from Premier Heather Stefanson cabinet after appearing at trucker rally this weekend.

Guenter served as the Legislative Assistant for the Minister of Health.

In a statement to the press, Premier Stefanson said that the recent events involving protests from Canadian truckers raised significant concerns, "I expect all representatives of the government, whether Ministers or their Legislative Assistants, to support efforts to get all Manitobans vaccinated."

Like the rally at Parliament Hill over the weekend, Protestors gathered in Winnipeg and some in attendance were seen with racist imagery, Stefanson said, "Our government believes in democracy and the right to peacefully protest; however, we do not condone the use of anti-semitic, racist imagery, and desecration of war memorials or statues."

Early this weekend, Guenter posted to facebook , "I went to a trucker protest at the Manitoba-U.S. border on Highway 75 over the weekend and took to social media to say he supports the group fighting mandatory vaccines for truckers.

"Spent some time today with family, friends and scores of peaceful, freedom-loving Canadians in the freedom convoy," he wrote in the Facebook post.

"Thank you to Canadian and Manitoban truckers for inspiring a movement focused on returning to civil liberties."

In December, MLA Ron Schuler was removed from cabinet following months of speculation over whether he was vaccinated.

Stefanson said her government will update Manitobans this week about public health orders and supports for the business and arts sectors.