(OTTAWA) The Department of National Defense says formal proceedings have been launched against more than 900 members of the Canadian Armed Forces for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Updated yesterday at 5:50 p.m.
Chief of Defense Staff General Wayne Eyre ordered all service members to certify that they had been fully vaccinated by mid-October to protect them during the pandemic. The deadline was later extended to mid-December.
Although most members of the Armed Forces complied with the order, with a 98.3% vaccination rate among troops, a few hundred did not. The latter now risk having to leave the army.
According to the most recent data from the Department of Defense, more than 830 military personnel had received warnings by the end of December. They are ordered to undergo counseling and probation for refusing the injections.
Formal reviews were also launched against 100 other unvaccinated members, after corrective measures were exhausted.
The establishment of such examinations is generally the first step in inducing soldiers to leave the army, although, according to the spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, Daniel Le Bouthillier, these forced departures are not expected before the end of the month.
Mr. Le Bouthillier said that 44 full-time members of the Armed Forces volunteered to leave their jobs rather than get vaccinated, as well as an unknown number of part-time reservists.
“For the few people who cannot be vaccinated, each case will be assessed to determine if and what accommodation is reasonable,” Le Bouthillier said in a statement. Arrangements will take into account the health and safety of the defense team while focusing on the continued achievement of the Canadian Armed Forces mission. »
Shortage of staff
Although General Eyre made the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement to continue serving in uniform, the loss of soldiers would compound the shortage of Canadian military personnel.
The federal Liberal government has authorized an Armed Forces composition of 68,000 regular force and 29,000 reservists, but is several thousand short of both categories as recruitment has declined during the pandemic.
The shortage coincides with the military facing unprecedented demands over the past two years. She has led many overseas missions while helping provinces fight the pandemic and a growing number of natural disasters.
General Eyre, in an interview in November, acknowledged that the Canadian Armed Forces is “a fragile organization right now because of our declining numbers, operational tempo and the sexual misconduct crisis.”
Legal challenge
In December, several members of the Armed Forces attempted to challenge the vaccine requirement in Federal Court, asking Judge Janet Fuhrer to intervene. The latter rejected their arguments, in line with the legal defeats of federal employees who fight against vaccine requirements.
“The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that their interests outweigh the public interest in ensuring the readiness, health and safety of the Forces, the defense team and the vulnerable groups that they may be called to serve, wrote M.me Fuhrer in his decision. If the requested injunction were issued, material harm to the public interest would ensue, in terms of increased health risks to members of the Armed Forces and the public they serve. »
Edmonton attorney Catherine Christensen, who represented four of the service members challenging the vaccine requirement, said she was preparing to take legal action on behalf of her clients.