COVID vaccinations will be a requirement for all new County of Wellington employees.
Communications manager Andrea Ravensdale confirmed this by email stating the county considers vaccinations to be fundamental to protecting employees and the public as well as consistent with public health advice.
“All new employees are required to provide proof of up-to-date ‘fully’ vaccinated status for COVID prior to starting work as an employee with the County of Wellington,” Ravensdale said.
“They will be required to sign a vaccination agreement as a condition of employment.”
She explained those who aren’t must provide proof an appointment prior to starting work and then subsequently provide proof of vaccination consistent with the appointment.
New employees with medical reasons for not being vaccinated will be provided a letter to take to their physician upon request.
“Each case will be considered on its own facts, in accordance with any applicable legal obligations under the Human Rights Code,” Ravensdale said.
While the City of Toronto introduced a vaccine mandate for all workers, Ravensdale said the county is watching the evolving situation around mandatory vaccinations for existing employees closely.
At the lower-tier level, municipal officials contacted have not made any decisions on this but are also considering options.
"We have talked about mandating or looking at ways to ensure that our employees are all vaccinated," Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson said. "We're not to the point where the City of Toronto is right now, but it's certainly something we've been discussing within the township."
"There is no current plan to mandate vaccinations amongst the town employees at this time," Erin Mayor Allan Alls said in an email. "This however is an evolving matter that is being reviewed by the town’s leadership team in consultation with legal counsel."
Centre Wellington CAO Andy Goldie said no decision has been made at this time.
The Town of Minto is also looking at the matter.
"We are reviewing the different options at this time," Minto CAO Derrick Thomson said in an email.
