A ‘patchwork of rules’ emerges in government departments as BC Ferries and BC Hydro order staff vaccinations

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BC Ferries and BC Hydro said Thursday they would join the provincial government in requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But the announcements came with few details.

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BC Hydro said it will require all of its direct employees to be fully immunized by Nov. 22 and will require the same of all of its consultants, contractors and subcontractors from Jan. 10. Hydro said this also applies to the Site C Dam megaproject, where there have been outbreaks of COVID.

BC Ferries said it would require its employees, but not its passengers, to be fully vaccinated. He said he will comply with the Federal Vaccine Ordinance which requires employees to be vaccinated and directs employers in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors to establish a vaccination policy by the end of the day. of the month.

Interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond said she was “concerned about a patchwork” of rules emerging in British Columbia, given that many parts of the public sector have yet to establish vaccination policies or even said if they will.

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“It’s a very confusing time for many British Columbians because just recently we’ve seen the public service being asked to be fully vaccinated and we have an increasing number of situations…which adds to the confusion. and anxiety that many British Columbians feel. ,” she said.

Earlier this week Premier John Horgan and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry “strongly recommended” that Crown corporations and large industrial employers order their staff to be vaccinated.

Hydro said it would work with its “employees, unions and contractors” in the coming weeks to strengthen its vaccination policy, including accommodating those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

While BC Ferries must have a policy in place by October 30, the ferry company does not know what that will look like.

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In a statement, it said: “BC Ferries is seeking clarification from Transport Canada on how the full requirements will apply to its employees.”

The ferry company said federal rules do not include mandatory vaccinations for passengers, but it won’t say whether it plans to require it on its own.

“BC Ferries supports the position of federal and provincial health officials that vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 – to our customers, colleagues and families – and to protect public health by general and reduce the spread of disease. virus.” He said he would speak to his union and others to “respect different perspectives on this sensitive topic.”

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No one from the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union was available for comment.

On Tuesday, the BC Public Service Agency announced it would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for its 35,000 government employees, starting November 22. what penalties may be in store for those who refuse to be vaccinated without an exemption.

Meanwhile, B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said consultations are underway to help each school district decide how to implement vaccination policies. The Prime Minister said it was up to school counselors to find out how to proceed.

Next week, a separate set of vaccine orders will come into effect for workers and visitors to B.C. care homes, but vaccine order details covering other healthcare workers and visitors to hospitals have not yet been defined. Henry said those details “will come in the next few days.”