If you want to travel within Canada this winter you will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. At the end of this month, anyone over the age of 12 wishing to travel by air, rail, or sea will have to prove vaccination status before boarding any federally regulated transportation.

There will be a ten-week grace period where travellers will be able to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test but by November 30th that window closes and everyone wanting to travel will have to show proof of vaccination. People who travel on ferries will not have to provide proof of vaccination, but federally regulated vessels with a crew of more than 12 will have to be vaccinated.

Also, by October 29th, all federal public servants in core public services will have to be fully vaccinated. Employees not fully vaccinated or those who refuse to disclose their vaccination status will be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as mid-November. If someone who has had only one shot refuses to get a second dose within ten weeks will also be placed on administrative leave.

Any employee who gives a false attestation of their vaccine status will face disciplinary action up to and including termination of their employment.

The new policy does not apply to Crown Corporations or other agencies like Canada Post but the federal government is urging those departments to develop a similar vaccine mandate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced the federal government is almost finished with work on an international travel vaccine passport.

**Story by Wendy Gray**