Region of Waterloo to consider making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff

The Region of Waterloo will consider whether they should make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff.

Coun. Jim Erb, who represents Waterloo, brought forward a direction to staff on Tuesday during a regional council committee of the whole meeting to ask staff to develop a policy as regional workers return to in-person work. A direction to staff does not need to be voted on. 

"The COVID pandemic that we have all experienced … has been unprecedented," Erb said.

"I think the crucial question for us at what appears to be a crossroads — where we seem to be getting a glimpse of a hopeful ending of the pandemic and moving to secure the long-term well-being of our citizens — is how we maintain that momentum of goodwill that will create safe settings for our citizens to gather as family and friends and as an employer, how we create a safe working environment for our employees and visitors in our facilities."

He added, "We need to reassure our community that the regional employees are adhering to public health protocols including vaccinations or guidelines if they're not vaccinated so that our facilities are safe for them to enter."

Regional CAO Bruce Lauckner said staff have been seeking clarity what a return to work would look like.

"People are looking for us to give as clear direction as possible," he said, noting staff would work on a policy along with human resources and the region's legal department.

It's expected a report would come back before regional councillors at their meeting on Sept. 22.

Support and concerns

Coun. Sean Strickland, who represents Waterloo, voiced support for the motion earlier in the meeting during an update by the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.

"We're in a new phase now of the pandemic and I think it's been accurately described as a pandemic of the unvaccinated," Strickland said.

"If we really don't do everything we can to get more people vaccinated, this could continue to the point …. that we could face another shutdown and lockdown and we don't want to do that," he said.

"As an employer, I think we need to do more," he added, noting they should call on the provincial government to make vaccination passports mandatory.

"I think we should join the ranks of other employers and make vaccination, full vaccination, mandatory as a condition of employment," he said. "If you are not fully vaccinated, then you would be subjected to twice weekly tests."

Coun. Helen Jowett, who represents Cambridge, said the region should really consider the unintended consequences of putting too much pressure on people to get vaccinated if they're hesitant.

"We have to ask ourselves: Have we done a good enough job educating and appealing through different communication tools the importance and relevance of vaccination," she said.

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton clarified whether Erb intended for the policy to cover employees of Grand River Transit and he said it did.

Redman sending letters to premier, PM

Waterloo region is not alone in looking at mandatory vaccinations. Earlier this week, the University of Waterloo indicated anyone who goes to campus starting Sept. 1 will need to be either fully vaccinated or will be required to do twice-weekly testing.

As well, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked the clerk of the Privy Council to look into making vaccines mandatory for federal employees earlier this month.

In the U.S., members of the military would be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Sept. 15, under a plan announced by the Pentagon. As well, last month California and New York City announced all government employees were told they would need to get the coronavirus vaccine or face weekly testing.

Regional Chair Karen Redman said she supported asking staff to look into the issue.

"We have a lot of employees so I really do support this going ahead and looking into what the ramifications are and what the best policy framework would be," she said.

Redman noted she is working on a letter to senior levels of government asking for clarity, specifically about the policy framework when it comes to proof of vaccination. She said in absence of a national or provincial policy, people will be confused.