A majority of small businesses in Canada are planning to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory, according to a new poll.
The survey from consulting firm KPMG found that 62% of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada are either implementing or planning to implement a mandatory vaccination policy.
Eighty-four per cent (84%) of poll respondents said vaccines should be mandatory and are key to avoiding another lockdown. That same amount said they would support a vaccine passport for certain jobs or to enter certain places.
However, the poll also found that, while some workplaces have taken steps to make proof of vaccination mandatory, others feel that unless mandated by governments, it will be too onerous for them to make it a condition of continued employment.
KPMG surveyed 505 Canadian business owners between August 6 and 15.
The results were published the same day that the City of Toronto announced COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all city workers by October 30. Earlier this week, the federal government in Ottawa said it will require workers in some sectors to be fully vaccinated.
In the private sector, Shopify (TSX:SHOP) said proof of full vaccination will be required for any in-person meetings, and Maple Leaf Foods (TSX:MFI) said COVID-19 vaccinations will be required to come into its offices this fall.
In the U.S., large technology employers such as Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Uber (NYSE:UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) have said that once their offices are fully reopened, staff will need to be vaccinated.