Ontario Arbitrator Finds Three-Dose Vaccination Policy Reasonable In Long-Term Care Home

On August 30, 2022, Arbitrator Raymond upheld a mandatory three-dose vaccination policy in a long-term care home setting and found the employer even had a positive obligation to impose the policy, despite revocation of the Government Directive mandating vaccination policies in long-term care homes.

The Government of Ontario issued a directive requiring all long term care home workers to have three COVID-19 vaccine doses. The Employer in this case, The Regional Municipality of York, followed the directive and implemented their three dose vaccine policy in long term care homes. On March 14, 2022, the Government revoked the directive yet the Employer maintained and enforced their policy.