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Privacy czar probing complaints about federal public service vaccination requirement

OTTAWA — The federal privacy watchdog is investigating “a number of complaints” about the government’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public servants.
Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said in a statement Friday his office was looking into the concerns, but provided no details given they are now the subject of “ongoing investigations.”
The Liberal government announced earlier this month that core public servants must be vaccinated against the virus or face suspension without pay as early as Nov. 15.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced this week that provinces and the federal government have agreed on a new national vaccine passport for domestic and international travel.
Therrien said his office has had “constructive discussions” with federal officials over the last few months on the standardized proof-of-vaccination for travel initiative.
“That being said, in recent days, our office has received a number of complaints related to the government’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal public servants. We will therefore be investigating the application of privacy principles in this context.”
He added that although the initiatives are distinct, the principles applicable to vaccine passports for travel and to the vaccination requirement for federal public servants are the same.
“It would therefore be inappropriate to offer conclusions until we have completed our investigations,” Therrien said.
“Given the complaints about the public service vaccination requirement are now the subject of ongoing investigations, no further details can be provided.”
Therrien said Friday that vaccine passports might offer significant public health benefits but they remain exceptional measures. “They should only be imposed after careful consideration of privacy and other human rights principles.”
In May, Therrien and his counterparts across the country said respect for laws and principles governing personal information must guide introduction of proof-of-vaccination certificates that could smooth the transition to post-pandemic life.
In the joint statement, federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners said that in order to be justified, vaccine passports must be necessary to achieve their intended public health purposes, and their effectiveness in meeting the goals should be evidence-based.
The commissioners also said privacy risks associated with the initiative must be proportionate to the purpose, the personal information collection limited, the data used only for the intended goal, and the program have an expiration date.
“The government has provided us with information relevant to each of these criteria,” Therrien said Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2021.
Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
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CP NewsAlert: CFL, CFL Players' Association reach tentative collective agreement

TORONTO — The second strike in CFL history is over.
Two sources told The Canadian Press that the CFL and CFL Players’ Association reached a tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement Wednesday night.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as neither side immediately offered confirmation.
The contract must still be ratified by both the CFL board of governors as well as the CFLPA membership but the expectation is players will report to their teams Thursday and go through an opening-day walkthrough.
More coming.
The Canadian Press
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CP NewsAlert: Alberta premier gets 51.4% support in leadership review

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has received 51.4 per cent support from the United Conservative Party — enough to keep his job as leader, but leaving questions on how many members will continue to follow him.
The results were announced online after a month-long mail-in vote on his leadership.
If Kenney had received less than 50 per cent plus one, he would have had to quit as per party rules and a leadership contest would have been called.
The leadership review took on heightened importance over the past year as Kenney was buffeted by poor polling numbers, sluggish fundraising and open dissent from some in his party and caucus.
Normally, leaders consider 75 to 80 per cent — or higher — as the minimum credible mandate to continue leading their party.
Kenney had said he would accept a slim majority, because the voting pool was skewed by last-minute members interested only in scuttling his big-tent conservative party.
More coming …
The Canadian Press
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