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The RCMP has updated its vaccine expectation for local government support staff (i.e. those that work in RCMP detachments). New guidance requests that affected local government employees be fully vaccinated “as soon as possible.” This replaces previous expectations, communicated on December 10, 2021, that affected individuals be fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.
On October 6, 2021, the federal government announced a new COVID-19 policy that requires all RCMP employees, among others, to be fully vaccinated. Two months later, on December 10, 2021, a letter was sent to local government contract partners, advising that this requirement would be applied to all local government RCMP support staff at the end of the calendar year. For those individuals who could not be vaccinated, the RCMP requested they be tested for COVID-19 three times per week (similar to unvaccinated RCMP members).
Given the short time frame for local governments to come into compliance with the federal expectation and associated concerns, the RCMP has since revised its messaging. In addition to requesting that local government support staff be fully vaccinated “as soon as possible,” the RCMP has indicated that it will not be conducting any verification. The expectation remains that unvaccinated support staff be tested three times per week. The removal of a specific deadline reflects the RCMP’s acknowledgement that each local government is facing different challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.