Employers can demand workers be vaccinated against COVID-19: Quebec premier
Quebec Premier François Legault is insisting employers have the right to oblige their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 upon returning to the workplace.
"I want to be clear," he said. "Employers have the right to require that their employees are vaccinated."
He points out public health officials are still recommending people work from home, when possible.
"Some jobs, where you have to return to the office, such as in factories, then it becomes the employer's decision to ensure the safety of all their employees and clients," Legault said. "So, it's up to the employer to make that decision."
This comes as Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced health care workers would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, adding further details would be revealed in the coming days.
"The premier is playing a dangerous game. Can he stop playing with our emotions and stay consistent?" argued Vincent Marissal, Québec solidaire's opposition critic on health.
He insists Legault's government has been flip-flopping on which sectors would have mandatory vaccinations and whether or not employers have the right to fire non-compliant employees.
"If François Legault wants to expand mandatory vaccination, he should be transparent," he said. "Stop doing it on the sly and start by debating it in the National Assembly in order to answer all the questions it raises."
VACCINATION PASSPORTS
Quebec's COVID-19 vaccine passport came into effect Wednesday, barring non-vaccinated people from certain non-essential services, such as bars, restaurants and gyms.
Legault notes he's not worried about the small minority of people who may be unhappy with his decision to bring forth vaccine passports, saying he's proud to have been "the leader" to do so.
"Eighty-eight per cent of Quebecers have a first dose, so 88 per cent support the vaccine," he stated. "I think the vast majority of the population, they want a return back to a normal life. We need to help restaurants, gyms, bars, all those places that suffered in the last year."
There are certain exemptions to the rule, including those who participated in the Medicago vaccine trial and anyone "with contraindications to vaccination against COVID-19" who will have to ask for a doctor's note to prove they cannot be vaccinated.
The premier notes he is currently working with other provinces to ensure Quebecers can travel safely and show proof of vaccination.
"I’m talking with the premiers of other provinces in order to have a certain harmonization, in order to make sure the passport we have in Quebec can be used, for example, in Ontario, B.C. and other provinces," Legault explained.
The province implemented mandatory vaccine passports as a response to the recent increase in cases due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
To see the complete list of activities covered by Quebec's vaccine passport, click here (in French).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.