A ‘mosaic of rules’ emerges in government services as BC Ferries and BC Hydro order vaccines

Few details have yet been worked out for vaccine orders announced so far by various public sector employers.

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BC Ferries and BC Hydro said Thursday that they will join the provincial government and require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But the announcements came with few details.

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BC Hydro said it will require all of its direct employees to be fully vaccinated by November 22, and will require the same of all of its consultants, contractors and subcontractors beginning January 10. Hydro said this also applies to the Site C dam megaproject, where there have been outbreaks of COVID.

BC Ferries said it will require its employees, but not its passengers, to be fully vaccinated. He said he would comply with the federal vaccine order that requires employee vaccinations and directs employers in the federally regulated air, rail and ocean transportation sectors to establish a vaccination policy by the end of the month.

Acting Liberal Leader Shirley Bond said she is “concerned about a patchwork” of rules emerging in British Columbia, as many areas of the public sector have yet to establish vaccination policies or even say whether to do so on vaccines.

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“This is a very confusing time for many BC residents because we recently saw that the public service is being asked to be fully vaccinated and we have an increasing number of situations… adding to the confusion and anxiety that many residents from British Columbia feel, “she said.

Earlier this week, both Prime Minister John Horgan and Provincial Health Official Dr. Bonnie Henry “strongly recommended” that Crown corporations and large industrial employers mandate that staff be vaccinated.

Hydro said it will work with its “employees, unions and contractors” in the coming weeks to include meat in its vaccination policy, including accommodation for those who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.

While BC Ferries should have a policy in place by October 30, the ferry corporation is not sure what it will be like.

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In a statement, it said: “BC Ferries is seeking clarification from Transport Canada on how all requirements will apply to its employees.”

The ferry corporation has said federal rules don’t include mandatory vaccinations for passengers, but it won’t say whether it’s considering requiring that on its own.

“BC Ferries supports the position of federal and provincial health officials that vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 – for our customers, our colleagues and our families – and to protect public health in general. and reduce the spread of the virus. “He said he would be speaking with his union and others to” respect diverse perspectives on this sensitive issue. “

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No one from the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union was available for comment.

On Tuesday, the BC Public Service Agency announced that it will make COVID-19 vaccinations a requirement for its 35,000 government employees, beginning November 22. The agency said it is working out the details on how it will accommodate public servants who cannot be vaccinated and what penalties may be reserved for those who refuse to be vaccinated without an exemption.

Meanwhile, British Columbia Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said consultations are underway that will help each school district decide how to implement vaccine policies. The prime minister said it is up to the school board trustees to find out how to do that.

A separate set of vaccine orders for workers and visitors in BC nursing homes will take effect next week, but details on vaccine orders covering other healthcare workers and visitors to BC have yet to be defined. the hospitals. Henry said those details “will come in the next few days.”

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