Vancouver—British Columbia Health Officer announced a new mission on 19 January, empowering state school districts to require staff to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status. The order generated various responses.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a press conference with State Health Minister Adrian Dix that concerns from several school districts have increased the need to create legal tools that enable the collection of information.
She said it is a decision that the school district must make individually whether the school requires vaccination, but the school district needs information on the immunization status of its staff to make informed decisions. ..
According to Henry’s new health order, health officers can work with school districts to request employees to confirm that they have been vaccinated with COVID-19.
“We know that in the last few months, some school districts have had a hard time getting this important information,” Henry said.
“Unions and others have expressed concern about the legality of obtaining this information, so this is to make it very clear.”
At least one supervisor agrees. Kevin Kaardal, school director and CEO of Central Okanagan Public School, tried to collect vaccine status data from employees, but did not get enough response. New state health orders could change that.
“Our school board issued validation requirements a few months ago and conducted an investigation as part of a five-step process,” Kaardal told The Epoch Times.
“And we tried to find out how many staff were vaccinated for the risks assessed. We got about 60% of the answers, but that wasn’t enough. So this health order is certainly It helps in that process. “
However, the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) and Central Okanagan Teachers’ Association (COTA) are concerned about the privacy implications of school employees being forced to provide personal vaccination information.
In a letter sent to BCTF members, President Teri Mooring and COTA President Susan Bauhart told teachers that the union considers employers’ requests for vaccination information from members as a violation of their right to privacy. rice field.
“Employers do not need proof of vaccination from individual employees because the mandatory vaccination policy has not yet been implemented,” the letter said. “It is unfair to ask employees to provide proof of vaccination before being told what would happen if they did not provide proof of vaccination.”
However, Mr. Mooling said that if a compulsory vaccine policy were introduced, it would be another situation.
“We have asked the state government or state health authorities to do this. The government says they can’t do that because they aren’t direct employers, and that’s true, but. , State health officials could absolutely do this, and it’s frustrating that it’s not happening. “
However, the British Columbia school district is divided due to mandatory vaccine issues. Twenty-five of the state’s 60 school districts say they oppose the bill.
Action4Canada is a grassroots activist organization that opposes vaccination obligations that have visited the school district to gain a position on this issue, and school councilors who oppose it say they are concerned about personal liability.
Charles Le Beau, a lawyer working with the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedom, said Section 7 of the Canadian Rights and Freedom Charter protects people from disclosure of information that could jeopardize their rights. It states that there is a provision to do so. Human safety..
“When the government forces people to do or disclose something against their will, Section 7 of the Charter may be involved,” Lebeau said in a statement provided in The Epoch Times. Said in.
“Section 7 protects individual autonomy, including” essentially private choices “towards” the core of the meaning of enjoying individual dignity and independence. ” “
Still, Le Beau warned anyone who claimed that the problem had been resolved. She said that disclosing the status of the vaccine would eventually keep unvaccinated staff out of the medical facility and make Henry a medical worker in BC before making vaccination against COVID-19 a condition of employment. He said it was also the first step he had taken.
She added that unvaccinated school staff pose a “health hazard” to students and other employees, as defined by public health law.
“This gives substantive authority to give various orders to unvaccinated school staff under Articles 30-32 and 39 of the Public Health Act,” Le Beau said. I am saying.
“This order may be a state way to avoid school districts that refuse to impose vaccination obligations on staff.”
British Columbia’s largest school district voted against imposing vaccine obligations last year, saying its supervisors intend to support the decision.
“Our school board has decided not to pursue proof of vaccine status unless instructed by health,” said Jordan Tiny, director of the Sally School District, on January 18th. Said in a video message posted on the school’s website.
“We are not directed by health. We checked in to a health doctor yesterday. No change.”
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