Town of Ladysmith implementing COVID-19 vaccine requirement for staff
Ladysmith is the latest town on Vancouver Island to announce it will implement a COVID-19 vaccination policy for its staff.
The town said in a news release last week that it will require proof of vaccination for employees, as well as contractors doing business with the town and volunteers, such as members of the public serving on town committees.
The town did not specify a timeline for the new policy, saying only that it would be implemented "in the coming months."
"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present serious public health challenges requiring community-level mobilization to ensure we are all doing everything we can to protect our family, friends and neighbours," the town's release reads.
Ladysmith says staff who are unable to meet the proof of vaccination requirement will be asked to complete regular rapid testing before work.
The town has 129 employees across five divisions. The town's firefighters are included in that total, but officers from the Ladysmith RCMP detachment are not.
"The town has provided its staff with education and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic on the merits of vaccination, as well as implemented additional health and safety measures to protect staff while carrying out their respective duties," Ladysmith said in its statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.