Worker for Coast Guard submitted 20-page letter citing Christian beliefs, Canadian human rights legislation
A federal public sector worker wasn’t entitled to a religious exemption to her employer’s vaccination policy because her objections to the vaccine were secular rather than based on religion or creed, an adjudicator from the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board has ruled.
The worker was employed with the Coast Guard in Sarnia, Ontario, which is part of the federal government’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
In October 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of vaccines, the federal government enacted a vaccination policy for all core public administration federal public sector employees. The policy required all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or to request accommodation “due to a certified medical contraindication, religion, or any other prohibited ground of discrimination as defined in the Canadian Human Rights Act” by Oct. 29.
However, the worker was on leave until December 2, so when she returned to work her officer in charge sent her a letter informing her of the policy and giving her until Dec. 16 to attest her vaccination status or ask for accommodation. If she didn’t do either, she would have two weeks to attend training on COVID-19 and become vaccinated. If still wasn’t vaccinated by then, she would be placed on administrative leave without pay, effective Dec. 30.
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