Quebec health minister questions legal challenge of vaccine mandate for health-care workers
CTV
A hearing for a legal challenge to Quebec’s vaccine mandate for health-care workers is set for Thursday, one day before the contested government decree will take effect for thousands of employees across the province.
The Oct. 15 vaccine mandate will result in suspension without pay for any health and social services workers who aren’t fully vaccinated.
A Montreal-based lawyer is expected to file a safeguard order in court on Tuesday to give the court notice that she intends to argue the policy is a violation of workers’ rights and is not in the best interest of the Quebecers due to its possible effect on the health-care system. She is expected to present her case at an emergency hearing on Thursday.
Health Minister Christian Dubé defended the policy on Tuesday, saying it is based on a recommendation from public health.
“I think that what we’ve seen in our hospitals in the last 18 months — I have a little question in my mind, back in my ears, saying, ‘Why are they contesting that?’ when they see all the negative impacts of their colleagues at work that right now [are] saying some of our nurses are resisting vaccination when you see what is the implication of not being vaccinated,” Dubé said during a tour in Gatineau.
