After an announcement from Ottawa that took many people by surprise, representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces began on Monday to make “reconnaissance” in various Quebec vaccination sites, where up to 200 of them will be. deployed in the coming days to support staff.
It was the federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, who made the announcement in the morning on Twitter: “Following the approval of Quebec’s request for federal assistance, the personnel of the Canadian Armed Forces will begin their deployment today to support the province’s vaccination campaign, ”he wrote.
Various people working at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) joined by Press said they learned the news after seeing the Minister’s statement in the media. The role that the military will be called upon to play remains unclear at this time. Their tasks “could include welcoming people to the center, guiding people through the steps to get vaccinated and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and areas,” said Daniel Minden, spokesperson for the Center by email. Office of the Minister of National Defense, Anita Anand.
The military could also do data entry or be assigned to identity verification, said the MSSS.
In the morning, a small contingent of soldiers went to the vaccination center at Place Sports Experts, in Laval, to learn about the needs of the personnel. The soldiers quickly left and should make a service offer in the coming days.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, PRESS ARCHIVES
The vaccination center at Place Sports Experts, in Laval
“We are currently working with the Canadian Armed Forces on a deployment assessment. The vaccination sites selected and the deployment dates will be determined once this assessment is completed, ”said MSSS spokesperson Marie-Claude Lacasse.
“When the reconnaissance is complete, we will be able to deploy the appropriate number of troops to locations targeted by the province,” said Minden. Soldiers could receive their familiarization session as soon as [mardi]. For the moment, we are concentrating our efforts in the Montreal region at the request of the province, ”he added.
In Laval, the soldiers will be mainly assigned to “administrative tasks”, specified by email the spokesperson of the CISSS of Laval, Judith Goudreau. “They will start training this week before being officially deployed in the field. ”
In all, up to 200 soldiers will be deployed in vaccination clinics, for the moment in the Montreal region. “Our officials continue to assess what other federal resources can be used to help the province fight COVID-19,” Bill Blair continued in a second tweet.