Opposition Liberal party calling on mandatory vaccinations for Quebec health-care workers
The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is calling on the Legault government to be "much more coercive" and force health care workers to be vaccinated.
"We're there now," Liberal health critic Marie Montpetit said in an interview Thursday, saying she was "very much in favour of mandatory vaccination" after reviewing the latest figures.
Earlier this week, The Canadian Press reported that 77 per cent of health-care workers across the province have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses.
However, in half of Quebec's administrative regions, the percentage of employees adequately vaccinated is below 75 per cent, according to data The Canadian Press obtained from the Ministry of Health.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) took a stand in favour of mandatory vaccination for health care workers across the country.
They cited the "emergence of highly contagious variants", the "stagnation of vaccination rates across Canada" and the "fundamental duty" of workers to ensure patient health.
"We have a weapon against COVID and that is the vaccine. So it's common sense that people who are close to patients get vaccinated. It's a matter of protecting the public," said Montpetit.
"I think people have had time to have their concerns addressed. Now there is the threat of the Delta variant, which should lead the government to be more coercive... right now," she added.
Currently, employees in the Quebec health network are covered by Ministerial Order 2021-024 and must provide their employer with proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
Workers who have not received a dose of vaccine, or who refuse to provide proof of vaccination, must undergo preventive screening three times a week.
Health Minister Christian Dubé's office did not respond to the Liberal release on Thursday afternoon.
Québec Solidaire (QS) said it was relying on Quebec Institute of Publice Health (INSPQ) experts, "who have judged so far that there is no substantial advantage to making the vaccine mandatory."
"We are following the evolution of the situation and scientific expertise on the subject," said QS press secretary Mélanie Guillemette.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) is expected to address the issue at an upcoming caucus meeting.
In a sign that impatience with the unvaccinated is growing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on Thursday of mandatory vaccination for some federal employees.
Montpetit is also calling on the Legault government to obtain the vaccination status of teachers three weeks before the start of the school year.
The Ministry of Health told The Canadian Press this week that this data does not exist, since teachers are not required to inform their employers whether they are vaccinated or not.
"It's very unfortunate that the government has neglected to collect this data, when we know that schools are breeding grounds," said the Liberal MNA.
"The priority is to keep classes open. In light of the data, the government will have to make decisions, and put actions in place if necessary."
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 5, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.