Province prepares for staff shortages because of mandatory vaccine policy
CBC
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and some of his key cabinet ministers expect their government's decision to require all public sector workers to be vaccinated will mean hundreds of employees will be placed on leave before the end of the year.
People who draw a paycheque from the Nova Scotia government, including health workers, teachers, jail guards and other public sector workers, have less than two weeks to prove they've received their COVID-19 shots or are on their way to becoming fully vaccinated.
With the Nov. 30 deadline fast approaching, Houston said plans are in the works to deal with staff shortages.
"That policy is coming forward and we'll lose people, and that's not a good thing," Houston told reporters after a cabinet meeting Thursday.
"But in the interests of the public safety of Nova Scotians, we feel very confident that the policy is the correct policy."
The provincial Health Department released figures Wednesday showing the percentage of employees who have already complied with the government's edict and those who still have not reported their vaccination status.
As of Nov. 16, the vaccination rates were:
Education Minister Becky Druhan said she was "really pleased" with the number of school staff and support personnel who have received their shots.
"I think it shows that staff are taking this seriously and doing the right thing," she said.
The minister said there could be a number of reasons why 25 per cent of employees have not yet reported their status, including absences, but she noted there is still time for that information to be collected.
Druhan acknowledged the vaccination requirement means some employees may not be able to work after Nov. 30. She said contingency plans are being made "to deal with any issues that arise as a result of that."
Her cabinet colleagues responsible for health and long-term care offered similar reassurances, despite ongoing staff shortages in hospitals and care facilities.
"We know that there will be some loss in the system, but there will also be significant disruption as well if we have outbreaks as we've seen, or if we have a number of health-care workers that are sick as a result of COVID," said Health Minister Michelle Thompson.
"It's difficult. There's no easy answer, but I know that the system has been agile before and we have to work through what's put in front of us."
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.