Labour board rules CRA discriminated against Christian employee over COVID vaccine exemption

The Canada Revenue Agency discriminated against a federal public servant when it refused to grant him an exemption from the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate based on his religious beliefs, according to a federal labour board ruling.

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board ruled in favour of CRA employee Christopher Martin, who had sought a religious accommodation from the government’s vaccination policy.

Martin, a practicing Christian, objected to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine because of his religious beliefs concerning the use of fetal cell lines in the development or testing of vaccines.

According to CTV News, Martin submitted an affidavit explaining his beliefs and sought an exemption from the mandate. The CRA rejected his request, concluding his objection amounted to a personal choice rather than a sincerely held religious belief.

Martin was subsequently placed on unpaid administrative leave in November 2021.

The labour board disagreed with the CRA’s handling of his request, finding that Martin’s religious beliefs were sincere and protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The adjudicator found the CRA discriminated against Martin on the basis of religion when it denied him accommodation and placed him on unpaid leave.

Thousands of federal workers were subject to Ottawa’s vaccine mandate, which required employees in the core public administration to be vaccinated or face unpaid leave, subject to limited accommodations.

The federal government suspended its vaccine mandate in June 2022.

The board has ordered the CRA to compensate Martin for lost wages and benefits stemming from the period he was placed on unpaid leave, according to CTV News.