TDSB to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff, trustees and visitors
Canada’s largest public school board has voted unanimously to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff, trustees and visitors.
The Toronto District School Board made the announcement on Thursday morning, saying its trustees voted in favour of a mandatory policy at last night’s school board meeting.
The school board says it’s now in the hands of TDSB staff to come up with a plan on how it will work. Staff will develop a procedure for all workers, trustees, and visitors. They all must be fully vaccinated, and will be required to disclose and provide proof of their vaccination status.
“Staff will now have to develop this procedure and the key word is mandatory, it would apply to not only TDSB staff but trustees and visitors,” TDSB Spokesperson Ryan Bird said Thursday morning.
“They would be required to not only disclose and provide proof of vaccination, but then upload potentially the certificate that you receive upon that second dose.”
The board says it aims to have the procedure implemented prior to schools reopening on Sept. 9.
It is not yet clear what will happen to people who refuse vaccination, but Bird said that staff will establish those details in the upcoming plan, which is currently being worked on.
“We received this direction from trustees just last night, and now the procedure has to be developed,” Bird said. “There are legal implications, there are staffing implications, there are a number of implications so depending on that … that’s what staff are looking at.”
He said staff are also working on what information will be publically available on the vaccination status of TDSB workers, and the role of COVID-19 testing in the plan.
The Ontario government has previously said that it would enact a policy that would require educational workers to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or participate in a regular rapid testing program, however, schools boards are able to decide how they would like to enforce their own mandatory vaccination policy.
The school board noted in a news release on Thursday that people who are not vaccinated would be required first to attend a mandatory education session on the benefits of the vaccine.
“[The plan will address] a schedule for dates by which point any unvaccinated individuals must disclose if they have received first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines,” the release stated. “TDSB will comply with its human rights obligations and accommodate employees who are legally entitled to accommodation.”
The new rules will apply to all visitors, including parents wanting to enter the school buildings. Last year, due to the pandemic, parents were not allowed to enter schools at all.
“The data is clear — being fully vaccinated significantly reduces the risks of the most serious outcomes of COVID-19,” TDSB Chair Alexander Brown said.
This is an important step to ensure we are making our schools and workplaces as safe as possible for staff and students — particularly younger students who are not eligible to receive the vaccine.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.