Cabinet Spent $199M to Enforce COVID Vaccine Mandates for Federal Employees

The federal government spent more than $199 million to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates for federal employees, despite 95 percent already being vaccinated, according to records obtained through an Inquiry of Ministry. “Measures were $85.7 million and $112.9 million in 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively,” Treasury Board President Anita Anand wrote in reference to the “Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination” for the core public administration, which included the RCMP. Ms. Anand noted that of the $81.9 million allocated in 2021-2022 through the Treasury Board, $19.2 million was used for “procuring, warehousing and distributing COVID-19 rapid tests across the core public administration,” as well as funding for legal services. Additionally, $3.4 million was allocated for “Vote 1 Operating Authorities” and more than $350,000 was given to “Statutory Authority for Employee Benefit Plans.”...