OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for domestic rail, air, and marine workers, as well as many passengers, as part of a broad vaccination mandate announced Friday. All federal workers also must be vaccinated.
National Public Radio reports that Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in announcing the rule that “Canadians deserve to feel confident when traveling that the environment around them is safe…. We need to regain public confidence in travel.”
The Treasury Board of Canada said in a press release that vaccination of the federal workforce will be required “as early as the end of September,” with the requirement extended across employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sections no later than the end of October. By then, the requirement will also extend to passengers on interprovincial trains, all commercial air travelers, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.
More than 71% of Canada’s population is fully vaccinated, and more than 82% has had at least one shot, the Treasury Board said. Details, including proof of vaccination, are still being worked out.
Canada had reopened its borders to U.S. travelers last week if they had been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days and passed a COVID-19 test.
