Correctional employees must attest to their vaccination status: Action required by October 29

This content is a message to Correctional Service Canada (CSC) staff from CSC's Commissioner.

​Public health authorities continue to advise that combined with the existing safety measures, vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians. Thank you to all of you who are already fully vaccinated.

On August 13, the Government of Canada announced its intent to require vaccination across the federal public service. Today, I am sharing details with you on the implementation of the vaccination requirement and what you can expect in the coming weeks:

• Prime Minister announces mandatory vaccination for the federal workforce

Under a new policy, all employees in the Core Public Administration must be vaccinated.

• Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration

As an employee of the Correctional Service of Canada, you must be fully vaccinated. The requirement to be vaccinated applies whether you are working on-site at a federal government facility or working remotely.

For the purpose of the Policy on Vaccination, the requirement also applies to:

• casual workers
• students
• volunteers, and
• Interchange Canada participants

It also applies to contractors who require access to federal government worksites. More detailed information will be available in the coming days for individuals not captured in the system.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, federal public servants will need to confirm their vaccination status in the:

• Government of Canada’s Vaccine Attestation Tracking System (GC-VATS)

Everyone in the Core Public Administration will need to have completed their attestation by October 29, 2021.

All personal information collected from employees on their vaccination status will be done in accordance with:

• the Privacy Act
• the Policy on Privacy Protection, and
• its related instruments

You can find more specific information on the collection and use of your personal information when you submit your attestation.

What does this mean for you?

If you are fully vaccinated 

If you are already:

• fully vaccinated, simply complete your attestation in the:
  • GC-VATS system

It should only take a few minutes to complete the attestation. If you experience any technical issues, please be patient and try again later. If you find that you are not in the system, please speak with your manager. More information will follow on how to register.

If you are not vaccinated

Eight out of ten Canadians over age 12 are fully vaccinated. If you are not already fully vaccinated, I advise you to book your appointment as soon as possible.

Remember, in accordance with the Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements, public servants who work in the Core Public Administration can use Time off for personal medical and dental appointments (code 698) for both COVID-19 vaccine appointments:

• Directive on Leave and Special Working Arrangements

If you have had one dose but have not completed all required vaccine doses, you will be able to complete your attestation to this effect as of October 15 and must do so by October 29.

Regardless of your vaccination status, you must complete an attestation in:

• GC-VATS

by October 29.

If you do not attest to your vaccination status, or are unwilling to be vaccinated, you will be placed on administrative leave.

The vast majority of Canadians are eligible to receive the vaccine. In the exceptional case that you are unable to be vaccinated due to prohibited grounds under:

• the Canadian Human Rights Act, you may request accommodation

Employees unable to be fully vaccinated (with an approved request for accommodation) and who are required to report to work on-site will require regular rapid testing (i.e. at least twice per week). Learn more on the the

• Vaccines in the public service page.

You have an obligation to provide a true attestation. Making a false statement would constitute a breach of:

• the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. All attestation information is subject to verification and audit.

Training sessions

I understand that some people may have questions or want more information about COVID-19 vaccination. For this reason, employees who are not vaccinated and those who have not attested to their vaccination status by October 29 will be required to attend a training session on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, to ensure they have authoritative and accurate information on vaccine safety and benefits. I also encourage you to speak with your manager and your primary healthcare provider about any concerns or questions you may have.

More information about the government’s vaccination policy and the full list of employees of departments and agencies to whom this requirement applies, are available on:

• the Vaccines in the public service page.

Details on requirements and timing for Interchange Canada participants are being communicated to them directly.

Mental health support

The physical and psychological health and safety of public servants remain an absolute priority for the Government of Canada. As we mark Mental Illness Awareness Week, I remind you of the wide range of services and supports available, including:

• the 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• the flexibilities introduced under:
  • the Public Service Health Care Plan, and
• the mental health resource hub

If you have questions over the coming days and weeks on the implementation of this policy, please speak with your manager. If they do not have all the answers right away, we will work together with the Treasury Board Secretariat and our bargaining agents to gather information and share it.

Thank you

We all have an important role in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and contributing toward a safe and healthy workplace and environment to deliver our mandate. In addition to ensuring we are vaccinated, we must continue to follow all of our infection prevention and control measures. We will also continue to follow the Integrated Risk Management Framework and to encourage and provide vaccinations to inmates.

• COVID-19 in federal corrections: Framework for managing risk
• Vaccines administered to inmates in the federal correctional system

To those of you that are already fully vaccinated, thank you once again for doing everything you can to:

• protect yourselves
• protect your families and colleagues, and
• protect the communities you live in by reducing the risk of COVID-19

If you are not yet fully vaccinated, do not delay. Join the overwhelming majority of Canadians who have received the vaccine and get vaccinated.