Senate to impose mandatory vaccination policy for in-person attendance – CBC

Most senators are fully vaccinated but the status of Conservative members is unknown

Oct 28, 2021

Senators returning to Canada’s upper house for in-person sittings will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Speaker George Furey announced today.

The rule goes into effect on Nov. 22, when Parliament resumes after breaking for the summer and the recent election.

“As has been the case since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of all parliamentary personnel remains of paramount importance to the Senate,” Furey said in a media statement.

Unvaccinated senators with medical exemptions will be allowed to provide recent negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test results in lieu of vaccination.

The rule largely follows the mandate going into effect on Nov. 22 in the House of Commons. Returning MPs and anyone entering the premises will have to be fully vaccinated when they return to work next month.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/senate-vaccination-mandate-1.6229012