Vaccination rules for COVID-19 benefits to stick for foreseeable future, minister says

OTTAWA —
The federal minister in charge of aid to the unemployed says jobless Canadians who refuse to get vaccinated may find themselves blocked from benefits so long as public health concerns remain top of mind.

The Liberals have tacked provisos onto a suite of benefit payments, saying federal support isn’t to go to workers who lose work or hours because they refuse to get vaccinated.

The rules don’t apply to those who have a medical exemption.

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the decision was partly economic to make sure workplaces aren’t shut down because of an outbreak, and also to encourage more eligible Canadians to get a shot.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Qualtrough says the rules are likely to stay in place so long as public health remains a top policy priority.

The government’s latest round of benefits for hard-hit workers is scheduled to last until early May, but the Liberals have the power to extend aid until the summer if necessary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2021.