Owen Sound council could discuss vaccine passports and policies at its next meeting.
At Monday night’s council meeting (Aug 30), two notices of motion were put forward by council members on the subjects.
Councillor John Tamming gave notice of motion that he plans to bring the idea of a Grey Bruce vaccine passport to the council table if the Province doesn’t do it.
In his notice of motion, Tamming said, “COVID-19 has devastated scores of our city and regional businesses,” he added, “Many of our businesses simply cannot survive another COVID related shutdown.”
He told council, “We are facing the fourth wave of COVID-19 and it is unknown whether we will face further multiple waves in the future,” pointing out COVID-19 vaccines are available to any and all qualified residents.
(Audio: Councillor John Tamming Aug. 30)
In his notice of motion, Tamming said, “The Province of Ontario has thus far opposed, provincial wide vaccines passports,” noting, “Other municipalities such as the Region of Waterloo are actively considering local vaccine passports”
He says at the next meeting, (Sept 13) if there is no planned provincial passport he will move that city council correspond with Grey County and Bruce County and the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit and request in writing that failing the adoption of a provincewide vaccine passport plan on or before November 1, 2021, “That such governing bodies implement forthwith a Grey Bruce COVID-19 vaccine passport.”
There have been rumours the Province plans to announce a vaccine passport requirement this week.
Meanwhile, Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy put forward a notice of motion about a vaccination policy for City employees and council, saying, “The Province of Ontario has made vaccine policies mandatory for high-risk settings,” adding, “Many municipalities in Ontario have, or are in the process of developing a vaccination policy.”
Boddy told council he will bring the motion to the next regular council meeting that “City Council direct staff to bring forward a report respecting an employee and council vaccination policy designed to protect the employees, contractors volunteers and the public.”
(Audio: Mayor Ian Boddy Aug. 30)
The Province’s vaccination policy for high-risk settings that include some schools, shelters, hospitals and other care centres as well as group homes and other congregate settings, includes options such as full vaccination against COVID-19, a medical exemption, completion of a vaccination education session, or regular antigen testing.
These notices of motion could appear on council’s agenda at its September 13th meeting. If they do, council will decide if it will discuss them and could possibly vote on them.
