Canadian Federal Public Servants who aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and don’t obtain medical exemptions are to be forced to take unpaid leave, the Government has announced.
However, journalists say there are so many exemptions and loopholes that two thirds of the bureaucracy could get away with not getting vaccinated.
The governing Liberals first proposed vaccine mandates two days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a snap election in August.
In addition to Federal Public Servants and some domestic travellers, the new rules would also apply to employees in Federally-regulated industries.
However, the vaccination program is set to work on an honours system and won’t require vaccination papers.
In addition the list of exempted employees is long, including call centre operators; Federal judges; meat inspectors; park wardens; postal workers; tax auditors; Parliamentary staff; soldiers; sailors and air crew; as well as members of the public entering Federal buildings.
The Treasury Board said employees in “core public administration” included in the order could comply by filing an electronic statement claiming they were vaccinated – without having to provide proof – or they could claim an exemption under the Human Rights Act on religious or medical grounds.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said the policy had been announced “without meaningful consultation with less than a single business day to provide feedback”.
“How it is applied matters,” the Alliance, the largest union representing Government workers, said in a statement.
“We know increasing vaccination rates is the best and most reliable way to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our workplaces and our communities and we encourage our members to be vaccinated,” it said.
“However, if the goal is to keep the workplace healthy and safe this policy falls short,” the union said.
Ottawa, 9 October 2021
