Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federally Regulated Transportation Employees and Travellers
On October 6, the federal government announced that anyone departing from Canadian airports, or taking VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, will need to be fully vaccinated to travel, as of October 30.
Travellers who are in the process of being vaccinated can temporarily show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel, but that transition period will end November 30.
Employees in the federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors will also need to be fully vaccinated.
Transport Canada will use its specific regulatory and oversight authorities related to operations of federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation service providers to ensure that the transportation system and these workplaces are safe through vaccination mandates. Each organization will be required to implement a rigorous policy, which must:
Include a provision for employee attestation/declaration of their vaccination status;
Include a description of consequences for employees who do not comply or who falsify information; and
Meet standards consistent with the approach taken by the Government of Canada for the Core Public Administration.
After a short phase-in period, each organization is required to guarantee employees are fully vaccinated or they will be unable to work.
