Trudeau Liberals' vaccine mandate for 300,540 federal employees 'complicated,' says Dr. Tam

In Spring 2021, the Trudeau Liberals informed senior federal officials it could mandate the COVID vaccine for all workers nationwide. Yet, Canada's top doctor said compulsory vaccination of federal employees alone would be "a complicated program to roll out."

The Trudeau Liberals pledged mandatory vaccination requirements for federally regulated workers in transportation, banks and telecommunication companies. Compulsory vaccinations would apply to the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces at home and abroad, penitentiary guards, Crown corporation employees and staff at federal offices nationwide. Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer, said cabinet would mandate vaccines for all 300,540 federal employees by month's end, reported Blacklock's.

"It's a complicated program to roll out, and then there also have to be arrangements for testing, for example, for those who can't get the vaccine," she said. Tam added the undertaking was complex because "They are now figuring out the instructions to staff in terms of providing at a station, for example, the vaccination status." Noting the Public Health Agency was not running the mandatory vaccination program, she said, "All of that is still in the work."

However, those workers account for under one in ten Canadian workers, with all others falling under provincial labour laws. Although the Constitution puts public health under the purview of provinces and territories, internal documents said the Trudeau Liberals could consider making the COVID vaccines "a national interest item." They would need to either work with provinces and territories on a set of guidelines or develop their own, reported the Globe and Mail.

"Should people show proof upon entry to different buildings?" said Tam. "That I think needs to be sorted out by the departments, but I think the concept is you need to make it operationally feasible."

"You would need around over 80 percent vaccine coverage to move towards herd immunity or community immunity," she said. "That is a particular target. That's the denominator which is the total population, not the eligible population," referring to those over 12 who are eligible for COVID immunization.

The documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the access-to-information law said mandating COVID vaccines isn't a move contemplated heading toward the summer.

Cabinet last August 13 set the Halloween deadline for vaccine mandates. Treasury Board President Dominic LeBlanc told reporters at the time that cabinet would "build the details" later. "What will happen to federal employees who choose not to be vaccinated?" asked a reporter. "We're not focused on those questions," replied LeBlanc.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters September 28 he expected to name a new cabinet this month, write a Throne Speech and summon the 44th Parliament back into session "before the end of the fall." The "exact dates are still to be worked out," he said.

Trudeau omitted any reference to the original October 31 deadline to have all federal employees vaccinated or mandate vaccination for millions of air travellers and train passengers. "Are you prepared to lay off tens of thousands of workers?" asked a reporter. "The public service and the unions have been working on that," replied Trudeau.

"We will have announcements very soon that will clarify these questions," said Trudeau. "But we want to make sure those who work for the federal public service are vaccinated."