Red Deer city council gave initial approval Monday to a vaccination mandate for councillors.
If this policy is officially adopted on Jan. 31, members of city council will have the choice to either be fully vaccinated by April 19, or pay for their own rapid antigen tests.
The only difference in this mandate for council, compared to the one imposed last fall on city workers and volunteers, is that councillors will not face penalties of up to dismissal if they break the policy.
Mayor Ken Johnston said it had to be adapted to apply to elected officials.
Under the policy, non-compliant councillors will be unable to attend any in-person city meetings, workplaces or events in their capacity as elected officials. This includes council or committee meetings.
Councillors who are not compliant will also be unable to attend any in-person community events or meetings where they are acting on behalf of the mayor or council in their capacity as elected officials.
Johnston said this mandate does not impinge on what councillors do, otherwise, in their private lives.
Although two city councillors — Victor Doerksen and Kraymer Barnstable — had previously spoken out about not giving up personal freedoms nor divulging personal health care information, city council unanimously gave this policy first reading on Monday.
Like the vaccine mandate for city staff and volunteers, this one for council was drawn up to reduce pressures on Red Deer hospital, since unvaccinated people are more likely to require hospitalization with the virus.
Many councillors and community members also felt that the same rules should apply to members of council as apply to staff.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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