Policy and Rights Government Issues October 13 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update in Ottawa on the federal government's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He is joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. They unveil details of their government's plan to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for federal public servants and for domestic travellers. Federal public servants in the core public administration must be fully vaccinated by October 29. Unvaccinated employees will be placed on unpaid leave as early as November 15. Employers in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors will have until October 30 to establish vaccination policies. Those ages 12 and older travelling by plane, train or cruise ship in Canada must be fully vaccinated by the end of November. The prime minister also apologizes for travelling to Tofino, B.C., for a family vacation on the first National Day For Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. He has faced widespread criticism over the timing of his vacation, and offered an apology to Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir for not accepting two invitations to attend the B.C. First Nation's event in Kamloops.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks with reporters on Parliament Hill to wrap up his party's first post-election caucus meeting. New Democratic incumbent and newly elected MPs gathered in Ottawa the previous day to discuss the results of the September 20 federal election and priorities for the upcoming session of Parliament. Despite increasing its share of the popular vote, the NDP only gained one more seat than it won in the 2019 election. The party is conducting a review of its election campaign.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole speaks with reporters in Ottawa after the party's first post-election caucus meeting. His leadership has been under scrutiny in wake of the party's failure to win enough seats to form government in the Sept. 20 federal election. Caucus voted to give itself power to hold a leadership review at any time. O'Toole has already initiated an internal review of the election campaign, which was his first as party leader. Former Conservative MP James Cumming will lead the review. Conservatives were elected in 119 ridings, two fewer seats than they won in the 2019 election under former leader Andrew Scheer.