Steven Porter was denied an exemption based on his religious beliefs.
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The federal labour board has found that the Canada Revenue Agency discriminated against a Christian public servant when it refused his COVID-19 vaccine exemption request.
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In 2021, Steven Porter had sought an exemption from the the federal government’s vaccine policy, which required public servants to prove they were fully vaccinated or go on administrative leave without pay. Porter argued that he was unable to get vaccinated due to his religious beliefs, but the CRA denied his request.
He avoided being placed on administrative leave by taking a combination of paid vacation, sick leave and unpaid sick leave.
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Porter then filed a labour grievance against the federal government, and has now won $5,000 in damages in a decision from the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board.
“The effect was that he was excluded from the workplace and it was an adverse impact. His religious beliefs were a factor in the adverse impact,” adjudicator Brian Russell wrote in the decision.
