Air Canada91裸聊视频檚 decision not to offer rapid testing as an alternative for employees who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 sets a tough new precedent that other companies may emulate, experts say.

The country91裸聊视频檚 largest airline will require all employees to disclose their vaccination status by Oct. 30. Employees who don91裸聊视频檛 have a valid reason for not having their shots, such as a medical exemption, will face consequences 91裸聊视频渦p to and including unpaid leave or termination,91裸聊视频� the airline said.

Chantel Goldsmith, an employment lawyer and partner with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP in Toronto, said Air Canada91裸聊视频檚 move is groundbreaking in that it91裸聊视频檚 a true vaccine mandate. She said companies that offer their unvaccinated employees wiggle room in the form of testing aren91裸聊视频檛 really making vaccination a condition of employment at all.

Air Canada91裸聊视频檚 announcement Wednesday came a week after most of Canada91裸聊视频檚 big banks announced their own employee vaccination policies. The airline and banking sectors are both federally regulated industries, and as such, have been ordered by Ottawa to require vaccination for their employees.

However, while many companies 91裸聊视频� including BMO and TD Bank 91裸聊视频� will allow unvaccinated workers to remain on the job as long as they submit to a regular COVID-19 rapid testing regime, Air Canada will not.

91裸聊视频淯sing the word mandating doesn91裸聊视频檛 actually mean mandating in that circumstance,91裸聊视频� Goldsmith said.

As long as the airline lives up to its commitment to accommodate employees who, for legitimate reasons, cannot be vaccinated, the airline is within its legal rights, she added.

91裸聊视频淚 think this is the first we91裸聊视频檝e seen by a big major employer that91裸聊视频檚 taken that step, but I do foresee other employers following suit,91裸聊视频� Goldsmith said.

However, that doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean that companies with strict vaccination mandates won91裸聊视频檛 face pushback. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), the union that represents thousands of Air Canada employees including groundcrews, said in a statement Thursday it 91裸聊视频渃ategorically rejects91裸聊视频� the use of termination and discipline as a way to increase vaccination rates.

91裸聊视频淭here are other ways to encourage participation in a vaccination program such as regular testing, PPE, remote work, and proven health and safety protocols,91裸聊视频� the IAMAW said. 91裸聊视频淰accination should not be the sole method of curbing COVID-19.91裸聊视频�

Porter Airlines, WestJet Airlines and Transat have also said say they will comply with the federal government91裸聊视频檚 vaccine mandate for transportation industry employees. However, Porter has said unvaccinated employees can still work provided they get tested 72 hours prior to a shift, while WestJet and Transat have not yet announced the details of their vaccination policies.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents pilots at WestJet and Transat, said in an internal memo to members obtained by The Canadian Press that it 91裸聊视频渞ejects threats of termination if vaccine requirements are implemented.91裸聊视频�

Many Canadian workers who don91裸聊视频檛 work in federally regulated industries will soon need to tell their employer their vaccination status. The City of Toronto, the Toronto Transit Commission and several universities and health care facilities throughout Canada have all recently stated their intention to require proof of vaccination from employees.

Earlier this week, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. 91裸聊视频� one of Canada91裸聊视频檚 largest oilsands companies 91裸聊视频� said it will be asking for proof of vaccination from all workers at its Horizon and Albian camps in northern Alberta. The company will offer a rapid testing program for unvaccinated employees.

Perry Berkenpas, executive director of the industry group Oil Sands Community Alliance, said vaccination rates among oilsands workers are as high as 75 to 80 per cent thanks to mass vaccination clinics held at work sites earlier this year.

But he said many companies will continue using rapid testing as an added layer of safety.

91裸聊视频淚n this case CNRL91裸聊视频檚 made a choice in one direction 91裸聊视频� I haven91裸聊视频檛 heard where others are going on that yet,91裸聊视频� Berkenpas said. 91裸聊视频淏ut rapid testing will be used where they think it91裸聊视频檚 necessary.91裸聊视频�

Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian Press

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