Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said during an interview with the CTV that he hopes COVID-19 vaccine mandates won’t need to be reinstated, says it depends on new variants.
Federal Liberal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said vaccine mandates and proof of vaccination are still on the table depending on emerging variants in the future.
It would be helpful if there was available data before the inevitable fear mongering campaign started.
Not a single document shared with Canadians to explain any decision on the punitive and inconsistent travel restrictions in Canada. 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli https://t.co/sT2Ewlt7E3
— Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) June 19, 2022
When pressed about what threshold would need to be met for the government to reinstate the mandates, Minister Alghabra said that it would depend on emerging variants:
“For example, if –God forbid—we have a variant that has a high infection rate but low hospitalization rate, then even if the hospitalization rate is high, we may not have to impose severe measures. But, if we have a variant that has low transmission rate, but high severity rate, even if the hospitalization rate is low at the beginning, we need to be prepared for a high severity,”.
Minister Alghabra said that the situation remains “uncertain” but that the government has “to be responsible,”.
Adding that his “commitment and our government’s commitment is that we will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of Canadians.”