Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff

By Shaun Penner

Vaccine Policy

Vaccination & rapid testing policy implemented for City of Grande Prairie employees

Nov 9, 2021 | 9:06 PM

The City of Grande Prairie will be implementing an administrative policy for its employees which will require them to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be rapid tested every three days starting early in 2022.

The policy means all city employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 17, 2022. Should employees not be vaccinated by that date they will be required to rapid test every 72 hours, which the city will pay for, for a period of three months.

Administration will then re-evaluate the rapid testing procedure as to whether it would become an employee’s expense to continue rapid testing beginning April 18, 2022.

Chief Administrative Officer Horacio Galanti says the policy was implemented following regular consultations with provincial health authorities, as well as legal counsel in the areas of human rights, employment law, occupational health and safety, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Bill S-201.

He adds the policy also comes from continued collaboration with other major urban centres in Alberta, who have all instituted similar policies.

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“We really took a very cautious approach, trying to learn as well from some of their mistakes,” said Galanti. “We really took the best of those policies, lessons learned, trying to be flexible.”

Galanti noted administration is trying to be as flexible as possible, while at the same time following AHS Occupational Health and Safety guidance.

He also highlights the city is the only urban centre in Alberta which is allowing employees to receive a rapid test at the employer’s expense.

Estimates provided to council members Tuesday suggest the tests would cost around $40,000 for the three months

“Our policy is very flexible, and we are allowing our employees to get tested. We’re not mandating the vaccine.”

The policy will be reviewed by city council by the end of January, as well as at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

Galanti adds the policy will continue to adapt to ever-evolving public health guidance, and the city will consider any necessary changes in due time.

“If at any point there is something significant that it may require an amendment… we’ll bring it back to council for a public conversation.”

A survey undertaken in September of this year found 77 per cent of city employees said they were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For city employees to be considered fully vaccinated by January 17, 2022, they must receive their first dose by November 30 and their final dose by December 30.

The city’s policy adds those who are not compliant with the policy will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

“The City will review each non-compliant circumstance in its own context and circumstances, which could lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination,” reads the policy.

The policy will also apply to city councillors.