Public Servants Who Refused COVID Vaccine on Religious Grounds Win Arbitration

Public Servants Who Refused COVID Vaccine on Religious Grounds Win Arbitration
A nurse draws out a vaccine at a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., on Jan. 2, 2022. The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg
Matthew Horwood
Updated:
A labour board has ruled that a federal agency’s decision not to grant religious exemption for COVID-19 vaccine mandates amounted to “significant interference” with employees’ freedom of religion and breached Charter rights.
The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board cited the National Research Council for twice dismissing pleas for exemption from Christian staff, who objected to the source of cells used in production of COVID-19 vaccines.