The Canadian Federal Government has announced it will require all Public Servants to be fully vaccinated “as early as the end of September”.
Close to half a million people work directly for the Federal Government, Crown Corporations, the military or the police.
Nearly a million more work in Federally-regulated industries, which include banks and airlines.
Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has for months rejected the idea of vaccine mandates, but in recent days said he would ask the Clerk of the Privy Council to look into the possibility for Federal employees.
Head of the Privy Council, Dominic LeBlanc said the new, more transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 had changed things.
The vaccination requirement is also to be extended to all travellers on domestic planes, trains and cruise ships.
Minister for Transport, Omar Alghabra said COVID-19 had had a devastating effect on the transportation and tourism sectors — “and we must protect the hard-won gains”.
“Canadians deserve to feel confident when travelling that the environment around them is safe,” Mr Alghabra said.
Nearly 82 per cent of eligible Canadians 12 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine, while 70 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Mr Alghabra did not say what form the proof of vaccination would take, but the Government has previously said it would develop a vaccination passport.
“Canadians don’t want to go back to lockdowns. Canadians don’t want to go back to travel restrictions,” the Minister said.
“Canadians want to go back to normal as quickly as possible,” he said.
Ottawa, 16 August 2021
