MTL Gazette : Québec devra se justifier... Vaccin

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/new-poll-finds-96-per-cent-of-teachers-are-vacc...

Quebec must justify mandatory vaccination, human rights commission says

"The burden of proof belongs to the government. To (force people to get vaccinated), the government must produce reasons, justifications."
Author of the article:
Philip Authier • Montreal Gazette
Publishing date:
Aug 27, 2021 • 1 week ago • 3 minute read

QUEBEC — It’s possible to impose mandatory vaccination on employees of the state, but the burden of justifying such an infringement of individual rights rests on the shoulders of the government, the Quebec human rights commission said Friday.

Philippe-André Tessier, president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, told a committee of the legislature that with the information he now has in hand he cannot give the green light to the government’s decision to make vaccination mandatory for health-care workers.

Going down this path opens up a series of legal questions because vaccination is a medical act that affects people’s rights as protected by the charters of rights and freedoms.

On the other hand, vaccination remains the best way to stop COVID-19 and guarantee the health of citizens — another fundamental right, Tessier said. So restrictions of rights can be possible within a clear framework that he has yet to see.

“The burden of proof belongs to the government,” Tessier told the health and social services committee. “To do this the government must produce reasons, justifications.

“What we say is if the government is as transparent as possible … all these elements bolster the justification of the measures presented.”

Tessier’s opinion capped two days of hearings by the committee looking into Quebec’s plan to make vaccination obligatory for health-care workers as of Oct. 1 and whether it should be extended to other workers who have prolonged contact with citizens.

The commission did not produce an official recommendation, but it did expose a wide range of opinions. On the sidelines, Premier François Legault said he thinks private sector employees can ask for employees to show proof of vaccination.

Article content

While Health Minister Christian Dubé, public health and Quebec’s doctors argued in favour of mandatory vaccination in the health-care system Thursday, unions representing health-care workers said it could lead to worker shortages and possible legal action.

On Friday, unions representing education sector workers — while encouraging individuals to get vaccinated — expressed similar reluctance should Quebec try and impose it on them.

The government tried to nip potential opposition in the bud, releasing its own poll Friday showing 96 per cent of Quebec elementary and high school teachers are already fully vaccinated.

The Synopis Recherche Marketing poll also reveals eight teachers out of 10 support the idea of making vaccination obligatory in the education system.

''Philippe-André Tessier, président de la Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, a déclaré à une commission de la législature qu'avec les informations qu'il a maintenant en main il ne peut pas donner le feu vert à la décision du gouvernement de rendre la vaccination obligatoire pour les travailleurs de la santé.''

Malheureusmeent pour Légros il va peut-être devoir trouver d'autres arguments que ''C'est moi qui est élu c'est moi qui dessine....''

Heureusement que les médias anglophones existent au Québec...