# 2024-069 Others, COVID-19, Grievable Issue Under the National Defence Act

Case summary

F&R Date: 2025-07-04

The grievor contested the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) COVID-19 vaccination policy. He believed that the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy imposed on 8 October 2021 under the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Directive 001 placed undue pressure on CAF members by threatening their employment, effectively forcing many to get vaccinated against their personal beliefs and dignity. He argued that this amounted to coercion and expressed concern that CAF members were used to test the vaccine without adequate understanding of its long-term side effects. As redress, the grievor requested that the CAF acknowledge the violation of human dignity and take corrective action to ensure all members are treated with respect, fairness, and in accordance with principles that promote a safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free workplace.

The Initial Authority (IA) rejected the grievance because the time limit to submit a grievance was exceeded. In addition, the IA mentioned that the grievance should have been submitted when the vaccination directive was issued in October 2021 and not when the vaccination directive was removed in October 2022 under CDS Directive 003. 

While the Committee acknowledged the grievor's advocacy on behalf of his peers, there is no evidence that he was aggrieved by a decision, act or omission in the administration of the affairs of the CAF, as per subsection 29(1) of the National Defence Act and as such, his assertion that CDS Directive 003 was unlawful is disregarded. The grievor failed to present evidence that he had been personally aggrieved by the policy as he confirmed that he voluntarily took the vaccine before it became mandatory and was not given a remedial measure or other administrative action. As such, the Committee recommended that the Final Authority not afford the grievor redress.