A new COVID-19 vaccine policy is about to be implemented at Queen’s Park.

Starting October 4th, anyone looking to enter the Ontario legislative building will either need to be fully vaccinated with two shots or provide a recent negative COVID test result.

The announcement by Speaker Ted Arnott comes after NDP House Leader Peggy Sattler sent an open letter last week asking for a mandatory vaccination policy for all those accessing Queen’s Park.

The vast majority of MPPs are believed to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls was ousted from the PC caucus during the summer after he refused to get vaccinated.

Meantime, Long Term Care Minister Rod Phillips is not committing to mandating COVID vaccination for nursing home workers, instead encouraging individual LTC home owners to put mandatory vaccine policies in place.

Phillips said on Thursday there are currently 13 COVID outbreaks at Ontario long term care homes.

Philips also said Ontario plans to follow through on a promise to hire more than 27,000 staff, including registered nurses, personal support workers and support staff.

He then revealed the province is on track to begin offering 4-hours of care-per-day-per-resident this January, over the next four years.

Phillips made the comments at the opening of Faith Manor’s new 160-bed long-term care building in Brampton.