Nearly 1,000% More COVID Cases in Public Service After Vaccine Mandate, Labour Board Hears

The West Block of Parliament Hill is seen through the window of the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal public service employees put on leave without pay for refusing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination told a labour tribunal that infections in the workforce rose tenfold after the mandate was implemented, citing the government’s own data.

“Why did people become sick in such great numbers in the public service if they were immunized?” asked Bernard Desgagné, who represents two employees whose files are being adjudicated by the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board.