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Denomme: Fired After Mandate Absences; Meds Now Unaffordable

Day 3 · 6:41:31 · Dean Allison · Crystal Denomme · Mark Chapman · Shawn Buckley

  • 🏥 Hospital-based specialized physio and psychology were covered for three years then terminated.
  • 📉 She was fired because absences “frustrated” her contract after the workplace vaccine mandate.
  • 💊 Losing benefits left her facing $200+ monthly meds she can no longer afford; weaning is planned.

Job loss after the mandate stripped coverage for the drugs that keep her functional.

← Denomme: Unemployable, CPP Disability Caps Income at 66% | Julie Woods Sworn: Lab-Confirmed No Prior COVID →

Transcript

Dean Allison · 6:41:31

Okay, Crystal, a lot of people have talked about the, uh, about the costs that are not covered by provincial or federal or by any type of programs. What type of costs? I mean, I am, you know, we start talking about physiotherapy and all these things. Are any of these things covered or are you on the hook for them yourself?

Crystal Denomme · 6:41:52

My physio was covered because it was through the hospital. So I got into a really good program because of the CRPS I had special— specialized physiotherapy, so it wasn't just regular like sports therapy or whatever. So through that I was able to get the physio and the psychology for 3 years. Those were, were all covered. Last year I was terminated. I was fired. So I was fired because my absences from work, um, my absences from work frustrated my work contract is what they said. So I had lost all my benefits and everything. So I actually have an appointment coming up with my family doctor in November to wean off of the, um, existing medications that keep me as functional as I am, um, because it's too— I'm upwards of $200 a month just in medications and things like that, and I just, I can't afford to, to maintain that now.

Crystal Denomme · 6:42:58

So yeah, so I got fired for being absent, and the reason that I'm absent is because my work had the, the mandate to be vaccinated by September or lose my job and get laid off. So yeah, it's kind of ironic.

Dean Allison · 6:43:15

Well, Christa, we want to thank you for coming in today and sharing your story.

Crystal Denomme · 6:43:19

Setting this up, I appreciate it.

Dean Allison · 6:43:20

We, we do appreciate it, and, uh, once again, we We realize, uh, we need to keep pointing out the pain that people are in, even as they make a commitment to travel across the country from a short distance or a far distance. It is a sacrifice, and, uh, that you guys really want to tell your story, but you're still prepared to make that. So thank you for that.

Mark Chapman · 6:43:40

Thank you.

Dean Allison · 6:43:41

Thank you. Thanks, Christine.

Shawn Buckley · 6:43:45

So our next witness is going to be a virtual witness. And we're just trusting that they're going to bring her up. So we don't have any video. I don't see any video though. There we are. Drew, can you hear me? Okay, we'll just wait for— we can't hear you yet, so just sit tight, please. Keep talking and we'll get the sound figured out. Okay, yeah, I guess we're gonna— so Drew, we can't hear you yet, so we're gonna go to the next witness and hopefully they'll work out that bug between now and, and the next witness. Okay.