


A “vaccine break” for COVID-19 vaccination
A “vaccine break” for COVID-19 vaccination
Quebec follows the lead of the common law provinces[1] taking legislative action to encourage vaccination.
Inspired by an existing requirement allowing employees to be absent from work in order to vote in elections, Quebec Solidaire, an opposition party, is calling for all employees to receive a four-hour paid break to allow them to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Bill 798 gives all employees the right to be absent from work for at least four consecutive hours, without reduction of pay in order to receive each of the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine until the date the health emergency declared by the Quebec government on March 13, 2020 is lifted.
Accordingly, if Bill 798 is passed, employees will not have to go for COVID-19 vaccinations on their own personal time or take sick leave if going for a vaccination during working hours.
This Bill does provide, among other things, that an employee who wishes to be absent from work to be vaccinated has to notify his or her employer of his or her absence as soon as possible. However, the Bill does not specify any deadline for the employee to do so.
It should also be noted that no effective date for this Bill has been set.
We will follow developments in this regard and keep you informed of any progress on Bill 798.
[1] In particular: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
by Shari Munk-Manel, Mireille Germain and Nicholas Yanakis.
A Cautionary Note
The foregoing provides only an overview and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained.
© McMillan LLP 2021
Insights (5 Posts)
Bidders can Structure Offers to Discourage the Use of Rights of First Refusal
A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision considers the duty of good faith and honest contractual performance in the context of an asset sale involving ROFRs.
Update for Ontario Employers: Proposed Changes Related to Remote Workers
Ontario employer's should note proposed amendments to the province's employment laws that would clarify remote employees' entitlements in mass terminations.
Trademark of Foreign Owner Invalidated on the Basis of Bad Faith
Awareness of a senior rights holder’s trademark and its prior use of such trademark in Canada is relevant to the assessment of bad faith.
Fanning the Flames of Liability: The Ontario Court of Appeal Considers Product Liability Issues in Burr v. Tecumseh Products of Canada Limited
The decision of the Court of Appeal in Burr v. Tecumseh Products of Canada Limited, 2023 ONCA 135 provides a helpful overview of product liability law.
A Look at Some Key Findings by the Alberta Securities Commission in Re Bison Acquisition Corp.
On December 21, 2021, a panel of the Alberta Securities Commission issued its written decision providing its reasons for the oral ruling it made on July 12, 2021 regarding applications brought by Bison Acquisition Corp. and Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation Exchange Limited Partnership, as well as Inter Pipeline Ltd. and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.
Get updates delivered right to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.