Dube holds firm to Oct. 15 vaccination deadline for health-care workers
Despite pressure from the opposition and health-care unions, Christian Dubé won't budge.
Oct. 15 is the deadline for health-care employees to be fully vaccinated.
And he says those who haven't received both doses should think about the consequences: suspension without pay.
"The negative impact on seniority, for holidays, on pension plans -- there are a lot of negatives that maybe people have not considered before saying 'well, I'm taking a break,'" said the health minister.
The latest numbers from the Quebec health ministry indicate that 27,000 employees are not fully vaccinated, and more than 15,000 haven't received their first dose.
Dubé is closely watching the number of workers who are partially vaccinated.
"The ones that went for a first dose [...] will go in the next days [to] have a second dose. Their penalty outside of the system will be very short," he said.
On Wednesday, the Parti Québécois (PQ) backed numerous health care unions who asked the government to push back the vaccination deadline.
Dubé said the PQ's comments were irresponsible, but PQ MNA Joël Arseneau says the party is trying to protect the healthcare system.
"We’re defending services," he said. "We’re saying if the government didn’t reach its goal of having 100 per cent of the people working in the system vaccinated, does that mean the public, the citizens, the sick people will have to cope with not having services?"
Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal wants to know what Quebec's plan is following Oct. 15.
"We still don’t have the real plan, what is the real plan from Mr. Dubé? To make sure that we are not going to have some 'bris-de-services' [breaks in services] everywhere in the network."
Liberal party leader Dominique Anglade says the Legault government waited too long to announce mandatory vaccinations.
"Right now we feel it’s completely improvised. [In] September they said there was not going to be any impact on services -- we’re seeing impacts as we speak, and we still haven’t seen a plan for Oct. 15."
The health minister says we should know more about Quebec's contingency plan next week.
In the meantime, Quebec has hired 1,000 nurses to help out with a nursing shortage, and another 1,900 are in negotiations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.