The Canadian Provincial Government of Quebec has put a projected return to office working on indefinite hold.
Public Servants were expected to gradually return to their offices in Government buildings from tomorrow (7 September).
However, Minister for Public Administration, Sonia Label said the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic “forces us to play safely and postpone our plan”.
Ms Label said a reassessment would take place on 4 October — “we simply have to wait for a time when the situation is more favourable”.
“Given the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases resulting from the current fourth wave, it is prudent to postpone the gradual return of employees as the number of COVID Delta variation cases within the population is significant,” Ms Label said.
Quebec is currently experiencing around 500 new cases of COVID-19 and one death each day.
Meanwhile, the Province’s Human Rights Commission has said the Government should be required to justify any decision to make vaccinations mandatory for its employees.
President of the Commission, Philippe-André Tessier (pictured), told the Health and Social Services Committee of the Provincial Legislature that with the information he had, he could not give the green light to the Government’s decision to make vaccination mandatory for health-care workers.
“Going down this path opens up a series of legal questions because vaccination is a medical act that affects people’s rights as protected by the Charters of Rights and Freedoms,” Mr Tessier said.
“On the other hand, vaccination remains the best way to stop COVID-19 and guarantee the health of citizens — another fundamental right,” he said.
“So restrictions of rights can be possible within a clear framework that I have yet to see.
“The burden of proof belongs to the Government,” the President of the Commission said.
Montreal, 29 August 2021
