Queen's Park unveils new proof of vaccination requirements, impacting MPPs
Unvaccinated MPPs could be prevented from entering Queen’s Park when the legislature resumes in October unless they get tested for COVID-19, according to a new directive from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Ted Arnott – who presides over the Legislative Assembly as Speaker — issued a memo to “everyone seeking to enter the legislative precinct” that the COVID-19 protocols are being enhanced effective Oct. 4, when the Lieutenant Governor will deliver a throne speech on behalf of Premier Doug Ford.
Arnott said everyone would be required to provide either proof of full vaccination or proof of a recent negative rapid antigen test. The memo didn’t include any considerations for unvaccinated individuals with a medical exemption, suggesting they too would have to submit to routine antigen testing.
While its unclear how many staff at Queen’s Park would be impacted, the new rules could prevent at least two sitting MPPs from being able to enter the legislature without a COVID-19 test.
MPP for Chatham—Kent—Leamington, Rick Nicholls, who currently serves as the Deputy Speaker, chose to remain unvaccinated and was ejected from the Ontario Progressive Conservative party last month as a result.
Christina Mitas, the MPP for Scarborough Centre, was also given an ultimatum by Premier Doug Ford to get the COVID-19 vaccine or leave the party, but was allowed to remain on the government benches – unvaccinated – after providing the government with a medical exemption.
The government has not revealed the nature of Mitas’s medical exemption.
Randy Hillier, a former PC MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston who was removed from the party in 2019, expressed his disdain for the new rules.
“It is an unlawful directive,” Hiller told CTVNews Toronto in a text message, without elaborating.
Hillier, who has not publicly revealed his vaccination status, has tangled with legislative security staff during the pandemic over mandatory masking rules. Hillier wouldn’t say whether he plans on challenging the new rules.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.