A memo written by Interim City Manager Tracey Cook and sent to managers says effective Dec. 1, “the city’s COVID-19 vaccination policy will be updated to reflect that mandatory vaccination is no longer required for city staff , volunteers and contractors”. “The city said it will continually review this policy, led by science and evidence,” Cook wrote.

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“With more than 90 percent of the public and 99 percent of City staff now up to date with at least two doses of vaccine, science and public health guidance no longer supports the need for a mandatory vaccine policy.” Story continues below ad The news was later shared directly with City officials and publicly confirmed in the form of a news release. Cook said the city is still encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID, including a booster shot for the fall. Based on the arbitration and negotiations with the unions, the roughly 350 unionized employees who are either unvaccinated or did not disclose their vaccination status “will be offered reinstatement to unpaid leave,” Cook said. And those staff on unpaid leave will then be able to return to the workplace from 1 December. Current trend

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Cook said City “People and Equity” staff will work with different departments to review reinstatements on a case-by-case basis to make sure workplace returns are “aligned with operational needs.” The People and Equity team will also conduct a vacancy analysis and share it with the heads of the various departments. “Of course, there may be situations where vacancies are not available and alternative arrangements should be explored,” Cook said. “While unvaccinated staff will be eligible to return on December 1, staff re-entry into the workplace may not necessarily occur on that exact date.” Story continues below ad

Reinstatement of TTC employees ‘under consideration’

In a separate statement issued Tuesday after the city’s announcement, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said it was aware of the city’s policy change. “Although the TTC is a city agency, we have five different workers representing our employees,” the statement said. “We are working with all of them as a courtesy to discuss the future of our mandatory vaccination policy going forward. The reinstatement of employees terminated for non-compliance with the policy is under consideration.” The TTC said it would make an official announcement “in the near future.” #TTC’s statement on our mandatory vaccination policy ahead of the Council’s announcement. pic.twitter.com/JpIlcKpiH7 — TTC Media Relations 📰🚌🚋🚈 (@TTCNewsroom) November 8, 2022 © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.