Yesterday GAC Issued the following announcement:
To whom it may concern,
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on the health of Canadians. COVID-19 vaccines are a critical tool that reduce the risk of COVID-19 and protect broader public health.
As a responsible employer, the Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees. On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced its Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.<https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694>
In alignment with this important measure, all contractor and subcontractor personnel who access federal government workplaces where they may come into contact with public servants will also be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement will enter in effect on November 15, 2021.
Please note that this is a mandatory requirement and that personnel that are unwilling to be vaccinated will not be permitted to work at federal government workplaces where they may come into contact with public servants, as of November 15, 2021. Government of Canada contracting authorities will be pursuing means to ensure compliance, up to and including contract terminations with contractors who do not comply with this requirement.
If any of your contracts involve services where, in order to perform the work, your personnel or your subcontractors' personnel (if applicable) access Government of Canada workplaces where they may come into contact with public servants, then your business must certify that you will comply with the vaccination requirement on these contracts. This includes, for example, goods contracts that have a services component.
The vaccination requirement does not apply to contracts such as:
· contracts where the only services component is delivery;
· contracts where services are solely performed in non-Government of Canada workplaces; or
· contracts that are solely for the provision of goods.
The vaccination requirement does not apply to situations such as:
· where federal employees must enter contractor facilities (for example, meetings or other work related activities);
· where contractor personnel are only required to access Global Affairs Canada (GAC) facilities occasionally (for example, weekly or ad hoc meetings, occasional work related activities).
If you have affected personnel that are not able to get fully vaccinated due to a certified medical contraindication, religion or other prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, the contracting authority will consider requests for accommodations in accordance with the Act, as applicable. Please inform me as soon as possible of:
· The number of such unvaccinated personnel;
· The impacted work locations; and
· The steps you propose to undertake to mitigate any associated risks (such as regular rapid testing).
Please do not provide any personal information, such as any specifics about an individual's certified medical contraindications or about the applicable prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act with Government of Canada contracting authorities.
Accommodation and mitigation measures are subject to approval by the technical authority and must be adequate to ensure the health and safety of public servants. Accommodation and mitigation measures will not be approved for personnel that are able but not willing to be fully vaccinated.
In order to certify that your business accepts and will comply with the vaccination requirement, please complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Certification Form that is included with this letter and return it to
Covid19Attestation@international.gc.ca<mailto:Covid19Attestation@international.gc.ca>. Certifications must be returned by November 12, 2021 at the latest.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Development Contracting Services
Covid19Attestation@international.gc.ca<mailto:Covid19Attestation@international.gc.ca>