Council approves vaccine policy for city workers
Windsor City Council has unanimously approved a mandatory workplace COVID-19 Vaccine policy for its workers and it will go into effect later this year.
“Employers do have a responsibility and you see our federal government taking steps, you see our provincial governments across the country taking steps like this,” says Windsor mayor, Drew Dilkens.
Other municipalities across the province, including Toronto, Hamilton, York, Sudbury, and the County of Essex are enacting similar policies.
“In our country, Canada has formally given approval today to the vaccines Moderna and Pfizer,” says Dilkens.
Administration developed a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy to provide safe and healthy workplaces in Windsor as part of the ongoing effort to protect the community from COVID-19.
It will require city employees provide documentation proving that they are fully vaccinated or that they have applied for and received a valid accommodation under human rights legislation by Nov. 15 or they will be placed on unpaid leave.
This may create a need across departments to find temporary employees to maintain service levels.
“I think we have to take every step possible to make sure that we mitigate in any way, business impacts, education impacts,” says Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac.
Contractors and volunteers will also need to be fully vaccinated to access city facilities
The city says information regarding employees' vaccination status will be kept confidential.
“We have an idea of how many are already vaccinated percentage wise it’s upwards of 80 per cent, a little more than 80 per cent, so we think we’re in a good position,” Dilkens tells CTV News.
“Nobody wants to do this, but this is something I believe we have to do and this is literally where we’re at right now 18 months into this crisis,” added ward 1 councillor Fred Francis.
Unions representing both inside and outside workers feel the policy leaves out an important issue.
“When this was first rolled out to us... it did have testing in it. We were all on board with that. We had a great conversation with HR,” says Rob Kolody, president CUPE Local 82.
“I think that would kill a lot of that issue of that divide and segregation starting,” says Kris Matton, president, Windsor Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Administration will also be implementing activities and training related to vaccine promotion and education for employees, to help inform those who might be vaccine hesitant, in advance of the deadlines.
Dilkens says the policy will now be forwarded to all affiliated agencies.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It’s discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.