Why aren't COVID-19 vaccinations required for Ottawa police officers?
Ottawa’s police chief says the force’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, which does not require members be vaccinated, is safe for officers and the public.
Unlike federal government and city workers, who could lose their jobs if they aren’t vaccinated, police officers can continue working without getting their shots.
Instead, unvaccinated officers will be required to undergo rapid testing every three days.
The Ottawa Police Service will pay for the tests at designated locations. If officers go elsewhere, they'll have to pay out of pocket.
"Members are expected to make arrangements for testing at OPS identified testing locations. Should members attend a non-OPS identified testing location, such as a pharmacy, the employee will be responsible for the costs," an OPS spokesperson said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
Chief Peter Sloly says the policy was developed in full consultation with Ottawa Public Health.
“It’s in compliance with the municipal standards and provincial standards,” he told reporters on Monday. “We are going to do our very best to keep our members healthy and safe so they keep the city health and safe.”
Ottawa Public Health says in general, it doesn’t provide recommendations to employers regarding mandatory vaccine policies for staff.
“It is the decision of individual organization and businesses to implement a workplace vaccine policy,” OPH said in a statement. “With respect to the Ottawa Police Service, OPH provided information on and the rationale for OPH’s and the city’s mandatory vaccine policies.”
The Toronto Police Service is requiring vaccinations for both uniformed and civilian staff. Any member who isn’t fully vaccinated by Nov. 30 will be place on indefinite unpaid leave.
But the head of Ottawa’s police union says the OPS policy is more fair, and other big employers are going too far in demanding employees get vaccinated.
“Quite frankly, I don’t agree with their policies. I think it was very draconian and heavy-handed,” Matt Skof said. “This is the policy that I think will keep people at work and keep the environment positive as an employer, and productive.”
Medical experts say rapid testing can be effective in keeping staff safe, but it must be done at strict intervals.
“The challenge with COVID is that the incubation period is so small, and it’s asymptomatic spread, that you do have to test pretty often,” said Dr. Doug Manuel, a senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
“Even with rapid testing if you look at the models you are going to miss a few people.”
As of Friday, police estimated that more than 83 per cent of its members were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Sloly said fewer than 10 members have contracted COVID-19, and only two of them in the work environment. None have transmitted the virus into the public through their duties, he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.
DEVELOPING Israel says Hamas deal is 'far' from meeting its demands as Rafah offensive looms
Israel said the terms of a ceasefire deal Hamas accepted on Monday remained 'far from' meeting its demands and warned its military operations in Rafah would continue, even as it sent negotiators to talk to mediators.