Council to mull vax proof for delegates

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This article was published 12/10/2021 (1599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Want to present your views to councillors at city hall? You may soon need to be vaccinated first.

Council will consider a proof of vaccination requirement for anyone who presents their views as delegates at committee and council meetings, a measure contained in a new proposal to the governance committee. Those who aren’t vaccinated would still be able to participate remotely, by phone or video connection.

While remote delegations sometimes lack the personal appeal of those made face-to-face, the need to ensure public safety outweighs that concern, said Coun. Shawn Nason.

“(The presentations) are certainly less impactful (but we are) balancing this against the public health risks. We have to weigh everything with that lens,” said Nason.

The Transcona councillor said he hopes to push the visitor vaccination requirement further, extending it to those who enter the council building for other meetings.

“I believe we should be trying to capture everything at once, instead of (through a) piecemeal (system),” he said.

If approved, the immunization requirement would expire on Dec. 31, 2022.

A Manitoba political scientist said the move does appear to strike an appropriate balance between ensuring access to democracy and protecting public health.

“To provide proof that you have a vaccination card, I think is certainly reasonable. You have to do the same to go into a restaurant and we’ve got (COVID-19 case) numbers rising and there is an option for having remote presentations,” said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

Adams noted the University of Manitoba also requires full vaccination for those attending its campus, so the city proposal doesn’t appear out of the norm.

A public service report notes allowing remote access appears to have increased the number of public delegations made at city hall, which has extended the length of many meetings.

“(This) may lead to increased operational costs, depending on whether or not committees return to evening meetings outside of normal operating hours. While not a reason to stop remote delegations, this will need to be considered in the long term,” the report notes.

The new proposal also calls for members of council to be able to attend meetings remotely until the end of 2022 and to permanently offer public delegations the choice to participate remotely.

The report calls for council to approve a new full-time permanent audio-visual position to support the changes, work that’s been handled by temporary employees so far.

All of the changes would require full council approval.

The date when members of the public would be expected to show proof of vaccination to speak in council chambers has not yet been determined.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga