The warning and probation measures previously levied by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) against a military member for her refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 were “unreasonable and unjustified,” an independent military administrative tribunal has ruled.
“The CAF vaccination policy was unreasonable because it was overly broad and disproportionate in its application,” wrote Nina Frid of the Military Grievances External Review Committee (MGERC) in a May 30 ruling.
“The CAF did not offer any evidence that mandatory vaccination, despite the high vaccination rate among CAF members, was necessary in every instance or in each individual case due to operational requirements.”
The CAF imposed a vaccination mandate in the fall of 2021 that lasted until October 2022 and those who did not comply were released under code 5(f)—a dishonourable discharge usually reserved for soldiers with “personal weaknesses” or other issues deemed to impose an excessive burden on the armed forces….