Ontario will not require mandatory vaccines for employees

The Province of Ontario will not demand its employees be vaccinated, saying the policy is “not needed.”

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, speaking at a press conference in Whitby today, said the fact that 80 per cent of Ontarians over the age of 12 are vaccinated means a mandatory vaccine is not necessary.

“At this point it is not our plan,” she said. “People understand (vaccinations) keep them healthy and keep their friends and family safe.”

Jones said some provincial institutions like long-term care facilities and hospitals may require additional training so staff “know the risk” of not being vaccinated, “but at the end of the day people will do the right thing.”

Jones was also asked about masking policies, given that Alberta recently relaxed their own policy, with predictable outbreaks following the decision.

The Solicitor General did not call out her provincial counterpart but cited the United Kingdom and Israel, who also loosened masking restrictions, only to restore the policy after more outbreaks occurred.

Mandatory masking will continue to Ontario for the time being, she said.