Coronavirus: Canada to require vaccines for air travellers and federal staff
- Workers and passengers on airlines, railways and cruise ships will need proof of inoculation by the end of October
- The move seeks to boost a vaccine drive that is losing some momentum, and comes ahead of an expected snap election in September
Government officials said Friday the plan is to require government staff to be inoculated by early fall. Workers and passengers on airlines, railways and cruise ships will also need proof of vaccination by the end of October.
This is the most dramatic step Trudeau has taken to date to speed up a vaccine drive that is losing some momentum. The move also illustrates how Liberal Party strategists are going to try frame the election around public health and management of the pandemic – issues where they believe they have an advantage.
“We need to regain public confidence in travel. Such confidence will give a boost to our industry,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said at a press conference with other ministers.
Canada’s two largest airlines said they support mandatory vaccines for employees.