tim grant, public service commissioner, said unvaccinated staff should receive their first dose by oct. 31, and their second dose by nov. 30. however, grant said if employees refuse to get vaccinated they will not be let go.
“our aim is to encourage and educate all the members of the public service to get vaccinated, we believe that’s the best, the safest, the most appropriate route to go,” grant said.
“however, if at the end of the day, an individual decides that they won’t get vaccinated, they don’t have an exemption, we can’t accommodate them, and they do not want to get tested, then we would put them on unpaid leave.”
he said the restrictions exemption program will also be implemented in government of alberta facilities, such as the jubilee auditoriums, museums and some historic sites.
“this is consistent with other alberta venues so that albertans can continue to support local artists and business in a safe manner,” grant said.
the province is also working on a similar policy for mlas and staff working in the alberta legislature. kenney said discussions are taking place with the opposition ndp, the speaker of the assembly and the legislative assembly office.
ndp opposition health critic david shepherd said thursday the new vaccination requirement for public service employees is “prudent,” but he noted that manitoba, ontario, new brunswick and saskatchewan already made similar moves weeks ago.