Will O’Toole mandate COVID-19 vaccines for Conservative MPs? He’s not talking

Mandatory immunization has been called for or supported by the other parties as they prepare for Parliament to resume after last month's election.

One of the challenges for Erin O’Toole, in staying on as Conservative leader, will be deciding whether his MPs must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the House of Commons.

Mandatory immunization has been called for by the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois, and supported by the NDP, as parties prepare for Parliament to resume following last month’s federal election.

It’s unclear when MPs will return, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has introduced a vaccine mandate set to take full effect Dec.1 that will require air and train passengers to be immunized in order to board.

Included in that policy will be federal politicians travelling to Ottawa from different parts of the country.

Conservative whip and Alberta MP Blake Richards said negotiations around returning to the House of Commons haven’t started yet and “we will continue to follow all public health guidelines and encourage every Canadian who is able to get vaccinated.”

He added “under no circumstances will Conservatives support virtual Parliament,” with members participating via videoconference. His office has yet to clarify whether it supports or opposes the calls for MPs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

During the campaign O’Toole opposed the Liberal plan to make vaccination the rule for federal public servants, people working in government-regulated industries and domestic travellers.

But he was silent last week when a re-elected Trudeau unveiled the policy, with British Columbia MP Mark Strahl tweeting the mandate is “discriminatory, coercive and must be opposed.”