A bill aimed at preventing the federal government from imposing Covid vaccine mandates for employment or travel in Canada was voted down in the House of Commons Wednesday.
The private member’s bill championed by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, dubbed the “Prevention of Government-imposed Vaccination Mandates Act,” or Bill C-278, faced stiff opposition from Liberal and NDP MPs.
The bill received 114 votes in favour and 205 against, with all Liberal, NDP, and Bloc MPs voting against it.
The bill sought to amend the Financial Administration Act, the Canada Labour Code, and several other laws to prohibit the federal government from imposing vaccination mandates in the future.
It would have ensured that individuals could not be compelled to receive a Covid vaccine as a condition of employment in the federal public administration or as part of their involvement with other federally-regulated undertakings.
Additionally, the bill aimed to prevent regulations under the Aeronautics Act, Railway Safety Act, and Canada Shipping Act, 2001 from barring individuals from boarding aircraft, trains, or vessels solely based on their vaccination status.
Over a million unvaccinated Canadians were barred from traveling via plane, train or crossing the border prior to the Liberals lifting the mandates last year.
Poilievre, while speaking to the bill Tuesday, blasted the Liberal government’s handling of the Covid pandemic and its approach to vaccine mandates.
“Let us remember that the prime minister originally said vaccines would be a matter of personal choice. Then he did a poll showing that it would be popular to target a small minority of people who chose not to be vaccinated,” said Poilievre.
“He flip-flopped and said he would make it mandatory, and three days later, he called an election and attempted to exploit that political moment in order to regain power.”
Poilievre also blasted the continuation of Covid vaccine requirements for members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
“The government’s own grievance tribunal has found that the mandates violated the charter when it comes to members of the armed forces, yet still the mandates remain in place in open violation of the Charter of Rights,” said Poilievre.
