Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new mandatory vaccination requirement for air and train travel in Canada.
By the end of November, anyone aged 12 years or older will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to board a plane or a train in Canada, and that will include staff.
Trudeau said at that point, testing will not be an option to bypass the vaccine requirement.
"This is about keeping people safe in their job and their communities," said Trudeau.
The travel requirement is one of two new federal vaccine mandates announced today (Oct. 6) by Trudeau and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.
The second mandate requires all federal workers to be vaccinated by Oct. 29, which will include federal public servants, RCMP, border service agents, correctional services and those working in federal public administration.
"We are taking this step to protect those who work in federal public service and their families, and it protects everyone who does business with federal departments," said Freeland.
Freeland said workers who are not fully vaccinated or don't disclose their status will be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as Nov. 15.
She urged anyone who has not had a vaccine against COVID-19 to get one as soon as possible, and to bring any questions to their trusted healthcare professionals.
"Our absolutely strongest and most important economic policy continues to be a strong public health response ... and that includes making sure all eligible Canadians get vaccinated," said Freeland. "That is how we avoid entirely preventable lockdowns."
The Prime Minister said this was "no time for half measures" and promised more to come on a federal vaccine passport for international travel, and legislation to make it a criminal offence to threaten or harass healthcare workers.
