While describing it as a place where one can find love and peace through prayer and mixed martial arts practice, Croteau himself has recently become extremely frustrated with the US Customs and Border Protection. He has an autoimmune disorder that makes him exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Last May he tried to cross the border with his family and his letter was rejected and his wish to cross. “There were a lot of tears shed,” Croteau said. He says the trip is important to his family because they are trying to attend a memorial service for his wife’s grandparents. They died in an American nursing home at the height of the pandemic and the lockdown. He never had the opportunity to say the right goodbye. “It’s hard not to get excited, but when she was watching her grandparents’ funeral she was watching on her cell phone,” Croteau said. “And that was the hardest thing for me to watch because he was crying and could not hear what was being said.” He tells CTV News that as soon as the situation improved and travel was normalized again, the family designed a memorial so they could all be together and do a traditional service. But when he arrived at the border with the exception of vaccine, PCR test and proof of death and the monument in hand. he said border guards would not let him pass. “The car was loaded,” said Trish Croteau’s wife. “We had someone take care of our cats and take care of our house. to get there and not be allowed to pass – it was difficult “. They were repulsed but eventually removed. Tris did not want to leave him behind and her brothers did not want to continue the memorial service without them. She says they canceled their hotel reservation and her siblings did the same with theirs. Croteau says their next move was to email US customs and contact an American immigration lawyer. By e-mail, a boss wrote that his written exception was very vague. Part of it says: “Most of the medical letters for exemptions we have received are more detailed and include an underlying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, etc. In the absence of more details, I can resign from the Director of Field Business, because the reason for the visit is important, a Feast of Life. Either way, you have plenty of time to take care of any of these procedures before the end of August, beginning of September. Please let me know which way you want to go. “ Asked if a solution would be more revealing, Croteau said part of it also concerns the doctors’ oath and his right to medical confidentiality. “I’m very public as a pastor with my illness. I’m very public on social media with my illness,” Croteau said. “My struggle with this (revelation) is that by declaring my illness to them (the doctors) then I can be discriminated against.” Former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian agrees that it is not up to border agents to decide what a doctor is authorized to exclude. In a statement to CTV News, Cavoukian wrote: “I find it completely unacceptable for a person crossing the border not to receive a medical exemption from a doctor regarding the need for vaccination.” He added, “We do not need to provide a patient’s medical condition, personal health information or other details. It is the medical crisis that is required – perfect!” However; protocol in the United States does not agree. CTV News contacted the US Customs and Border Protection. Provide the following statement: “People with medical contraindications to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine may be exempt from medical treatment, but CBP officers may, at their discretion, require any person claiming an exemption to provide proof of eligibility in accordance with the documentation requirements in the Technical Guidelines.” of the CDC. “ In addition, a deep dive into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has a dot that clearly states that vaccine exemption letters for medical contraindications for COVID-19 must contain many key elements. According to the CDC, “medical condition must be reported”. Croteau said his fight is not over. and hopes to reapply for compassionate resignation within the next few weeks. The family plans to try to gather for a memorial service in honor of his wife’s grandparents again before the summer is over.
