The Liberal Party was sidetracked Wednesday by a mostly silent MPP going rogue on vaccine mandates.
Thunder Bay—Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle made rare news when his effort to help a constituent bypass vaccine requirements at their workplace was highlighted by the Progressive Conservatives. Gravelle's push to seek an "accommodation" for the local personal support worker (PSW) contradicted the stated policy by Steven Del Duca and the bill from fellow Liberal MPP John Fraser that he had been promoting that morning.
Gravelle, in an email to Ministers Christine Elliott and Rod Phillips, sought relief for a local constituent who has been a PSW for 30 years but has "chosen not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine" and faces job loss for that decision.
"As MPP I hope some accommodation for vaccine-refusing workers in Ontario like [redacted] might be made," he requested. "I am aware that regular tests are allowed as an option by some workplaces. Any assistance or advice your ministries can offer to PSWs who do not want the vaccine, and want to keep working, would be much appreciated."
The Liberals had led the way at Queen's Park in championing vaccine mandates as a means to help close the gap achieving herd immunity, and were lagged on the issue by both the PCs and NDP.
Fraser was caught off guard about the email, which was shared with the Press Gallery in the midst of his scrum by a PC spokesperson. After the email was read to him Fraser disavowed his Liberal colleague's view. "Our policy is very clear. I don't agree with him. I don't think he's right."
The Ontario Liberal Party also criticized Gravelle, who has represented the party in the legislature since 1995. "MPP Gravelle’s comments were wrong and completely out of line with the Ontario Liberal Party’s position on mandatory vaccinations. Health-care and education workers must be fully vaccinated, and we will continue advocating for strong mandates to protect our most vulnerable."
Gravelle added his own mea culpa. "I deeply regret that I sent a letter to the government requesting 'advice' on potential accommodations for COVID-19 vaccinations for health-care workers in the province, including those from my riding‎. I stand firmly behind our party's call for mandatory vaccinations and will make that clear in any further exchanges with the government. In my effort to assist a constituent, I made a mistake and, as I said, I regret doing that. It will not happen again."
Gravelle added that he hoped it would not undermine Fraser's proposed Bill 12, which would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for front-line health-care and education workers. It was scheduled to be debated in the legislature Wednesday evening.
Independent MPP Roman Baber was in London on Wednesday alongside approximately 50 health-care workers, where he argued that people who choose not to be vaccinated should not lose their job. "Choice should not lead to unemployment and should not lead to the collapse of Ontario's health-care system," he stated.
The Gravelle gaffe came immediately after the COVID-19 science table gave vaccine mandates more support. It stated <a href="https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/covid-19-vaccine-mandates-for-ontarios-hospital-workers-response-to-the-premier-of-ontario/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a letter</a> addressed to the premier, "A requirement for all hospital workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and to join with the majority of their colleagues and eligible Ontarians who have already been fully vaccinated, can enhance safety and reduce the risk of staffing disruptions due to COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines help to protect the people working in Ontario’s hospitals, as well as the unvaccinated and vulnerable patients more at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 complications. Requiring that hospital workers be vaccinated is an evidence-based policy that protects Ontarians."
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) CEO Doris Grinspun welcomed the support from the science table, noting that the RNAO was the first group to call for a health-care worker vaccine mandate. She urged the premier to act accordingly. "The premier needs to move and move fast," she appealed, adding that some people have left workplaces because vaccines are not mandatory at those sites.

Gravelle gaffe sends Liberals scrambling on vaccine mandates

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