Will vaccine mandates push Metro Vancouver police officers to different forces?

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Some police officers in Metro Vancouver need to be vaccinated, others don’t.

Last Wednesday, the Canadian government announced federal employees, including members and reservists of the RCMP will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 29 or face being placed on unpaid leave by Nov. 15.

Just days later, TransLink announced it is implementing a mandate for its workers, including those with Transit Police. They have until Nov. 29 to provide proof of vaccination.

The transit authority is also still working on providing solutions for workers who are medically exempt. It’s unclear what will happen to employees who refuse to get the shot, though Transit Police Dave Jones says it’s possible they could be placed on an unpaid leave of absence.

Related video: New vaccine requirements for travellers and federal servants announced

Other local police forces, such as the Vancouver or Delta police departments, have so far not announced vaccine mandates for its members.

But Jones doesn’t believe many officers will make moves to different jurisdictions.

“But that isn’t something that is as easy for someone to say, ‘Today, I don’t want to be here and tomorrow, I’d like to be there instead, because of this.’ I’d also like to think that some agencies will look at the rationale for why someone is trying to make a change in careers or go somewhere else.”

Related articles: 

• TransLink mandates COVID-19 vaccines for employees

• BC Hydro mandates COVID-19 vaccines for workers

• B.C. mandates vaccines for 30,000 provincial employees

Jones adds members have been generally supportive of the mandate.

“We had done an internal survey some time ago and it indicated that over 90 per cent of our officers … were already double vaccinated and out of the remaining amount, the majority were going to become vaccinated,” he said.

He says the ultimate goal is to get a handle on the COVID-19 pandemic, “to the point where we don’t need these policies, where we don’t need these restrictions, where we don’t need to be showing double vaccination passports.”

TransLink is implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for employees https://t.co/Vwdg7QnAey pic.twitter.com/uwuys0dR34

— News from TransLink (@TransLinkNews) October 8, 2021

The new vaccine requirement from TransLink will also apply to employees of Coast Mountain Bus Company and BC Rapid Transit Company. More details are expected in the coming weeks.

BC Hydro and ICBC workers, as well as 30,000 provincial employees are also affected by incoming vaccine mandates.