(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

Effective immediately

Red Deer city council approves immunization bylaw policy after rejecting three amendment proposals

Feb 1, 2022 | 11:03 AM

Red Deer city council has approved an immunization policy that applies to members of council and volunteers appointed to council boards and committees.

Council voted in favor of the policy on Monday, which comes into effect immediately.

“As elected officials, we need to lead by example in the response to COVID-19. This policy is reflective of our goal in protecting ourselves and our community while doing what we can to safeguard our health care system,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “This policy which applies to council, reflects that it is important to remain diligent.”

Per the new council policy, if a member of council or a volunteer appointed to a council board or committee is not fully immunized, they must provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test to attend an in-person meeting or event when representing The City. The requirement for rapid testing for those who have not provided proof of immunization comes into effect Feb. 7.

“We recognize that councillors and council volunteers often have unplanned or spontaneous meetings with citizens, whether that be at a grocery store or the mall. The policy is not intended to govern those sorts of interactions, and only applies to formal meetings or events which the councillor or volunteer has been requested to attend by the mayor or by council to represent The City,” said Johnston.

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The council immunization bylaw policy stems from a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Cindy Jefferies in 2021. Council then directed administration to research a potential policy and bring forward for council’s consideration.

At Monday’s meeting, Councillor Victor Doerksen proposed three amendments to the policy, changing the language of the bylaw.

The first amendment was to replace words like “requirement” for “guidance”, removing sections stating that vaccination reduces transmission of the virus and maintaining instead that it reduces severity of symptoms, among other edits. Councillor Doerksen’s amendment also included that all members of council should take tests, regardless of vaccination status, that they can be at-home antigen tests rather than from a pharmacy, and that they have the option rather than a requirement to disclose their status.

Council, except for Councillor Kraymer Barnstable and Councillor Doerksen, voted against the amendment wanting to keep the policy the same as the one given to city employees.

The second amendment proposed had less changes to the wording but added the terminology “with exceptions” relating to vaccination requirements. It maintained the ability to do an at-home test and requested all councillors take a weekly test to self-monitor, regardless of status.

Council, except for Councillor Barnstable and Councillor Doerksen, rejected the amendment.

The final amendment proposal was to add in a clause stating that when the province removed the Restrictions Exemption Program, as Premier Jason Kenney has been already alluding to for the month of March, the council immunization policy would automatically be removed as well.

Council, except for Councillors Barnstable and Doerksen, rejected the amendment, stating that City employees did not have a similar clause in their immunization policy. The policy would thus have to be reviewed in 90 days.

Councillor Doerksen expressed how his hopes for the policy amendments would bring people together and inspire other communities and companies to follow suit.

Councillor Jeffries made a comparison to the pushback when seat belts first became mandated. She stated getting vaccinated was for the best interest of others and that she supported the policy as it increases a sense of security for individuals going into council meetings or places of business.

Councillor Barnstable expressed frustrations with the policy as he believes it is not about the vaccines, but about the mandates themselves that members of the public don’t agree with. It is clear that the variant doesn’t discriminate, so why are we doing it, he asked at the meeting.

The Council Immunization Bylaw Policy 3679/2022 can be found on The City’s website, https://www.reddeer.ca/city-government/bylaws/.