New COVID-19 Vaccine Policy for Federal Workers Expected Wednesday

Second-year medical student Nina Hadzimustafic delivers a COVID-19 booster shots at Jabapalooza, a pop up vaccine clinic, in Ottawa, on Dec. 20, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

The federal government is planning to update its policy on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for its workers on Wednesday.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has already filed a grievance against the existing policy which requires all federal public service members to be fully vaccinated even if they work at home.

The government is obligated to review the policy after six months and that timeline runs out this week.

PSAC president Chris Aylward says the union has been consulted, but he does not know what to expect from the new policy.

He says a few employees have been disciplined for their vaccine status and put on unpaid leave.

More than 98 percent of federal public workers have attested that they are fully vaccinated.