Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) President Gil McGowan said it's outrageous Premier Danielle Smith is telling companies to drop vaccine mandates. .“The premier is bullying employers & community and sporting groups to drop vaccine mandates against their will,” said McGowan in a Monday tweet. .“The film & TV industry is the gold standard for workplace COVID safety.”.McGowan made these comments after Smith said Monday she will not be prioritizing amending the Alberta Human Rights Act to include vaccine status. .READ MORE: UCP not tabling bill to amend human rights act to protect vaccination choice.Smith said when she hears about cases of people being discriminated against for their vaccine status, she contacts the companies to convince them to drop their vaccine mandates. Some examples she provided were when she spoke with the Arctic Winter Games and a movie set. ."We do not want discrimination in our province,” she said. .McGowan said the AFL will be encouraging employers to “not be swayed by Smith’s bully tactics.”.The president went on to say the movie and television industry implemented vaccine mandates because it helps their employees and business. He added he is sure most production sets will tell Smith to pound sand. .“But if she persists, it could drive millions & millions of dollars of investment and jobs out of the province,” he said. .Smith clarified comments she made about discrimination unvaccinated people faced on October 12. .READ MORE: Smith clarifies comments about unvaccinated.She said unvaccinated people are “the most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime.”."I want to be clear that I did not intend to trivialize in any way the discrimination faced by minority communities and other persecuted groups, both here in Canada,” she said.
