Ontario’s establishment parties have taken every opportunity to seize on Doug Ford’s weak leadership and flip-flopping to pressure the PC government into further destructive and intrusive policies related to COVID-19.
Last month, within days of the new legislative session starting, an MPP introduced Bill 12, the Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Education and Healthcare Sectors Act, 2021. Bill 12 proposed terminating employment, and barring employment, of any Ontarian working in healthcare or education who chooses not to disclose their COVID-19 vaccine status or who chooses not to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
All indications were that the Ford PC government was going to allow Bill 12 to pass second reading, leaving it one vote away from becoming law. Publicly, the Ford PC government was encouraging Ontario employers into implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies. PC MPPs had also voted down a private member’s bill that would have prevented employers from firing or penalizing employees because of their vaccination status or for refusing to disclose their vaccination status. Even on the day that Bill 12 was up for a vote, a PC MPP stated during debate that the government has seen employers putting in place mandatory vaccine policies and the government “supports them in making these choices.”
Prior to second reading of Bill 12, our team at the New Blue Party urged Ontarians to contact their MPP and request that they vote against the legislation.
The night before the vote, I led debate against Bill 12 at Queens Park by stating that making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for employment vilifies millions of people, tells them they can no longer participate in society, and results in animosity between Ontarians.
Thankfully, the pressure applied by thousands of Ontarians forced PC MPPs in attendance at the legislature to switch their position and vote against Bill 12 – and it was defeated 16-34!
As a result, there is no provincial law in Ontario forcing employees in education and healthcare to disclose their COVID-19 vaccine status. However, employers are still permitted and encouraged by the Ford PC government to make COVID-19 vaccinate disclosure mandatory for employment resulting in thousands losing their jobs.
Bill 12 was a substantive victory, but more work needs to be done.
We must continue to apply the pressure both inside and outside the legislature to stop spiralling into a two-tier society that pits one Ontarian after another.
Belinda Karahalios
MPP, Cambridge, North Dumfries, North Brant
