A labour board has ruled that a federal agency’s decision not to grant religious exemption for COVID-19 vaccine mandates amounted to “significant interference” with employees’ freedom of religion and breached Charter rights.
The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board cited the National Research Council for twice dismissing pleas for exemption from Christian staff, who objected to the source of cells used in production of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Being placed on leave without pay because of a sincerely held religious belief interferes with the freedom of religion in a way that is more than trivial or insubstantial,” wrote adjudicator Patricia Harewood in her May 14 decision, which was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter….