A Brief Summary of the News on COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine – September 15, 2021

Federal (national and international corporations and federal government)   

• In early September, the Chief Justice for the Federal Court of Appeal stated that it would be inappropriate to disclose “whether it has any personal views or institutional policies on [vaccine mandates for judges of the court], one way or the other” given the issue of vaccine mandates will likely end up before the court. 
• U.S. President Joe Biden met Wednesday with the CEOs of Walt Disney and Columbia Sportswear, and other business executives and leaders, to discuss his recently announced vaccine requirement for companies that employ at least 100 people. 
  • Also scheduled to attend Biden's meeting were representatives from health insurer Kaiser Permanente, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream and Louisiana State University.
  • Josh Bolten, president and CEO of the Business Roundtable, was also scheduled to attend. The Roundtable represents more than 200 businesses that employ some 20 million people. Last week it issued a statement welcoming Biden's announcement.  

Quebec 

• The grace period for presenting a proof of vaccination in certain non-essential places such as bars and restaurants is now over in Quebec. 
  • Quebecers aged 13 and over are now required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to access businesses and events such as restaurants, fitness centres and festivals. 
• Businesses not enforcing the vaccine passport now risk fines of $1,000 to $6,000, or, in some cases, even being shut down. Restaurant and bar goers attempting to enter without adequate vaccination face similar fines.  

Manitoba 

• It is believed Manitoba’s Court of Queen’s Bench was the first court in Canada to implement a mandatory vaccination policy, which bars judges and judicial assistants from entering courtrooms and chambers if they are not fully vaccinated.   
• Manitoba announced today that some individuals may be eligible for a temporary or permanent medical exemption to COVID-19 vaccination. 
  • Those who had a severe reaction after the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. myocarditis, Guillain-Barré syndrome);
  • Those who are receiving treatment that affects their ability to mount an immune response, meaning vaccination must be timed carefully with their treatment schedule (e.g. receiving immunocompromising treatment after a transplant, certain types of cancer treatments); or
  • Those who had a severe allergy or anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or its components that cannot be managed by the Health Sciences Centre Allergy Clinic. 
  • The province says the decision must be reviewed by a specialist physician and then submitted to the Vaccine Implementation Task Force.

Ontario 

• As of September 13, Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, the nation’s largest trial court, said the public can “expect” that judges hearing cases in person “will be fully vaccinated.” It is believed that Ontario’s Court of Justice and Court of Appeal were still working out their policies.
• Ontario officials have released more guidance on the implementation of the province's proof-of-vaccination system, which comes into effect on September 22. 
  • The government says provincial offences officers will be visiting businesses and organizations starting this week to raise awareness and understanding of the new requirements. 
  • Regarding enforcement of the vaccine certificates, Health Minister Christine Elliott said at a press conference Tuesday that the solicitor general has been in contact with police forces across the province, but it's "up to each police force to ready themselves accordingly." 
  • Affected businesses and organizations will be required to cross-reference vaccination receipts with identification (including options like a driver's licence, birth certificate or passport), and make sure the receipt shows any patron has been fully vaccinated for 14 days.
• The local health unit in Windsor is clarifying proof of vaccination requirements for weddings and funerals after receiving a flood of questions from confused residents. 
• The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has laid out exactly how it will implement its new mandatory vaccination policy.
  • TDSB staff  now have until November 1 to receive two doses of an approved vaccine.  
  • Until November 1, those who are not yet fully vaccinated will have to comply with regular COVID-19 testing and provide proof of a negative result to attend a TDSB workplace. The tests will be provided to individuals at no cost, the board says.
  • Staff who are not fully vaccinated or who have not disclosed their vaccination status must complete a mandatory education program supplied by the Ontario government no later than two weeks after the TDSB provides access to the program. 
  • This policy also extends to those who visit board premises frequently, such as students on educational placements, individuals on internships, co-op placements, or apprenticeship programs, volunteers, permit holders and contractors, those who provide professional services to children at school and “other members of organizations not related to the board but who nevertheless work on or are invited onto board premises,” says the board. 
• Members of the not-for-profit and municipal coalition will make mandatory vaccinations a condition for employment. The coalition has also asked government to implement mandatory vaccination for all healthcare workers, instead of letting individual homes to develop their own policies.  
• The Ontario Hockey League will now require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for entry into all 17 of its facilities across the province, starting on September 22. 
• Sault Ste Marie is implementing its own mandatory vaccination program for staff. The policy will likely go into effect this week. 
• Five Niagara-based companies representing over 5,000 employees will introduce vaccine requirements. 

Saskatchewan 

• Saskatchewan teachers’ union encourages the provincial government to adapt mandatory vaccination policies.   

New Brunswick  

• New Brunswickers aged 12 or older will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and government identification to access certain businesses and activities starting next Wednesday in a bid to limit the spread of the virus and boost vaccination rates. 
  • Anyone entering New Brunswick, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, will also have to pre-register and show proof of vaccination, Premier Blaine Higgs announced Wednesday. If they're not fully vaccinated, they'll have to self-isolate. 
  • In addition, anyone working or living in vulnerable settings will be required to be vaccinated.  

Nova Scotia 

• Some municipalities in Nova Scotia are getting set to adopt proof-of-vaccination protocols after the province lifts COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday that will see gathering limits and mask mandates dropped. 
  • Last week, Saint John passed a policy that requires councilors and employees, including police, to be fully vaccinated or undergo regular testing and wear a mask. That follows a similar policy approved by the city of Fredericton and several others across Canada. 
  • Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Amanda McDougall said her administration is working on similar rules for CBRM, whose employees include police, firefighters and many others who deal directly with the public. No one will be required to disclose their vaccination status publicly, but they will be required to disclose proof to their supervisor in order to avoid testing and masking. 
  • Halifax Mayor Mike Savage was not made available for an interview, but his staff say a vaccination policy for council and employees will be created once the impact of the provincial system on municipal services is determined.   

Prince Edward Island  

• The P.E.I. Liberal Party is calling on the province's Progressive Conservative government to implement a vaccine passport on P.E.I., require that all provincial public servants be vaccinated and reinstate a mask mandate for indoor public spaces. 
  • In a news release issued Wednesday morning, the Liberals called these "common sense" measures to restrict the spread of COVID-19 in the province. 
  • The Green Party has been calling for mandatory vaccinations for school staff and frontline health-care workers.  

Newfoundland and Labrador 

• The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador is not requiring its judges or staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 but urging them to get their shots all the same. 
• During a briefing today, Health Minister John Haggie said the province’s vaccine passport would not be mandatory and that it would be up to individual businesses whether or not they were used. 
  • Premier Andrew Furey announced last week the province would introduce vaccine passports modelled on those used by Quebec, where the passports are mandatory for non-essential services such as such as bars, restaurant dining rooms and gyms.  

British Columbia 

• BC Health Minister says preparations are being made in case healthcare workers quit over mandatory vaccinations. 79 percent of BC health workers are fully vaccinated leaving 6000 workers unvaccinated. 
• Apex Mountain in BC will not be requiring proof of vaccinate to ride the ski lifts. The only place that will require proof of vaccination is the Gunbarrel Saloon. The ski lifts will also be running at full capacity.  

Alberta 

• Damian Petti, President of Calgary's largest film workers union (IATSE 212) claims that COVID-19 vaccination requirements need to be stricter as several productions have been forced to alter filming schedules as a result of outbreaks on sets. The details could not be disclosed due to a non-disclosure agreement.