Doctor in British Columbia faults media and ‘cancel culture’ for Conservative party’s decision to cut his candidacy

The Denman Island doctor, whose license was suspended in 2022 for approving mask and vaccine exemptions, expressed no malice towards the Conservatives. Instead, he pointed fingers at political opponents and the negative media coverage he received just hours after his candidacy was announced by the Conservative Party of British Columbia on March 27.

“The media has become a weapon for the current government, attacking anyone who challenges them,” Dr. Malthouse stated in an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times. “That’s why there was such a brutal assault on me and the party.”

Various media outlets and social media users criticized the party for endorsing a candidate they claimed had spread “misinformation” about the COVID-19 vaccine during and after the pandemic.

“The media’s response led the party to believe that I was too distracting from the policies they wished to pursue,” Dr. Malthouse remarked.

“I recognize that the recent events can be seen as a form of cancel culture. There is an element of that. However, I believe that what [leader] John Rustad did was make the best decision for the party,” he added.

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The B.C. Conservative Party revealed Dr. Malthouse’s candidacy on its website and social media platforms, portraying him as a “seasoned family physician” contesting the Ladysmith-Oceanside riding. However, all posts linked to him were removed by that evening.

“We are a new party, we have grown at a record pace, but some mistakes are bound to happen,” Ms. Estey expressed in the statement.

“Unfortunately, we nominated a couple of candidates who ultimately weren’t the right fit for our team. We wish them all the best, and we thank them for putting their name forward.”

Dr. Malthouse expressed disappointment at being requested to withdraw, but he comprehends the party’s rationale.

“My history of speaking out, particularly on the COVID issue,” might have caused “confusion about what the party stood for,” he mentioned.

“I was too far out, perhaps, for the majority of voters to understand and to make an informed decision about who to vote for.”

In December 2023, Mr. Gunn was selected as a candidate by the Conservative Party of Canada, contesting the North Island-Powell River riding in the upcoming federal election.

The B.C. Conservatives received a boost when then-independent MLA John Rustad crossed over to join the Conservatives in February 2023.

After reposting a tweet by Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore, Mr. Rustad was acclaimed as the Conservatives’ leader last March.

Vaccine and Mask Exemptions

Dr. Malthouse, with over four decades of family practice experience, gained notoriety during the pandemic for speaking out against COVID-19 mandates in the media and issuing vaccine and mask exemptions to patients.

His decision to grant exemptions was driven by his belief as a doctor that every patient should have the “autonomy” to choose what is best for their health.

“Numerous high-quality studies have shown that masks do not prevent virus transmission but instead elevate CO2 levels, diminish oxygen levels, and create a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi against the face,” Dr. Malthouse elaborated.

“If a patient informed me they preferred not to wear a mask…as it aligned with scientifically sound safety and efficacy measures, I would grant them an exemption. I felt it was imperative.”

He held similar views on individuals being compelled to take a vaccine to preserve their livelihood.

“People were being coerced to receive an experimental vaccine without comprehensive information about its advantages and disadvantages,” he declared.

“I believed anyone who declined to receive the vaccine had the right to abstain, and I was committed to aiding them in safeguarding themselves and their children to the best of my ability. That is the duty of a doctor.”

Doctors on Tour

The college also reprimanded Dr. Malthouse for speaking out against the vaccine.

The public notification of his suspension stated that he “asserted medical conclusions without verified medical evidence, provided diagnoses and treatment courses potentially harmful to patients, and exploited his standing as a registrant of the college to circumvent public health orders.”

At least part of the criticism relates to Doctors on Tour, an initiative Dr. Malthouse led with like-minded doctors in 2021 to educate the public about the “risks” associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conducting the tour was not to enhance his reputation, he clarified—“it actually had the opposite effect.” Dr. Malthouse and his colleagues were “desperate” to commence the initiative as the government began administering COVID-19 vaccinations to children.

He highlighted instances of young individuals collapsing from myocarditis on sports fields as one of the most severe outcomes.

“That’s what we aimed to inform people about,” he explained. “We felt it was imperative, and as doctors, we were best suited to do so. We comprehend how to assess research, understand it, and communicate it effectively to patients and the public at large.

With a medical career spanning over 45 years, he has long been interested in integrative medicine, focusing on natural remedies, good nutrition, exercise, and overall well-being.

He aimed to convey the message that traditional medicine, specifically a vaccine, was not the solution.

The Doctors on Tour initiative encompassed six stops across three provinces, with most visits in B.C. Meetings were usually held in local churches or similar venues, although there were gatherings in larger cities such as Vancouver and Victoria.

Dubbed the “Educate Before You Vaccinate” tour, these meetings drew significant crowds despite guidelines for social distancing and setting limits, he asserted, as attendees were “eager” for information that wasn’t filtered through “mainstream media” or politicians.

The success of the initial tour prompted the doctors to launch a second initiative named Justice for the Vaccinated to support those dealing with vaccine-related injuries.

“There were individuals who lost six family members,” Dr. Malthouse shared. “People would come on stage, tearfully recounting their experiences. We aimed to give these individuals a voice to speak out and demonstrate that they were not delusional, which is what their doctors had told them.”

Looking to the Future

Regarding Dr. Malthouse’s disciplinary hearing, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. notified him that their investigation is ongoing, postponing the hearing until later this year.

The college refrained from commenting beyond confirming that Dr. Malthouse “remains suspended from practice.”

Although health care is just one of the topics covered at the town halls, Dr. Malthouse is particularly passionate about it.

“Over a million citizens in British Columbia lack a family physician, and walk-in clinics are shutting down,” he observed. “Emergency departments and maternity wards are also closing, and individuals struggle to access ambulances. Some are even sent to the U.S. for cancer care. Our health care system is under siege.”

Dr. Malthouse indicated that he will continue to support the party that dropped him and remains willing to serve as a health care advisor as needed.

“I believe this party still has the potential to rescue the province, as it is currently heading towards ruin,” he concluded.