Substance abuse is a danger to the health and safety of Employees, children and other authorized visitors. Accordingly, Kids Come First (the “Centre”) is a safety-sensitive work environment and the Centre has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of drugs, alcohol or any substance causing an Employee to be under the influence while in the workplace. Alcohol, recreational cannabis and drugs that are not medication are not permitted anywhere at the Centre by any Employee, child, family of child or visitor.

Definitions

“Medication” includes a drug obtained legally, either over the counter from a pharmacy or through a prescription issued by an authorized medical practitioner. For this policy, medications of concern are those that may inhibit Employees’ ability to perform their job safely and productively. Medication includes medical cannabis but not recreational cannabis.

“Medical cannabis” refers to cannabis that is consumed by persons who have the medical authorization from a health care professional to do so in accordance with the medically-prescribed time, amount and/or method of use and in accordance with the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”) and any other applicable legislation.

“Recreational cannabis” refers to any cannabis that is not medical cannabis.

“Under the influence” refers to a state induced by drugs or alcohol which may compromise or adversely affect the user’s thoughts, actions, coordination and/or concentration level.

Expectations

The manufacture, possession, distribution, transfer, purchase, sale, use, or being under the influence of alcohol, drugs that are not medication, including recreational cannabis while on the Centre’s property, while attending to childcare related activities, or while on duty is strictly prohibited and may lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Employees are prohibited from coming to work while under the influence by alcohol, recreational cannabis or drugs that are not medication. Accordingly, Employees should not consume alcohol or drugs that are not medication, including but not limited to recreational cannabis, in between same-day shifts to avoid violation of this policy. The Centre reserves the right to conduct appropriate inquiries if there is a concern that an Employee may be under the influence at work and to send the Employee home.

Under the Professional Misconduct regulation to the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, practicing or purporting to practice the profession while under the influence of any substance which the Employee knows or ought reasonably to know impairs his or her ability to practice constitutes professional misconduct.

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, all Employees have an obligation to report any co-worker to the Human Resources department if they are suspected of using drugs or alcohol while on Centre property, while attending childcare related activities, or while on duty. An Employee found to have failed to report a known incident of drug or alcohol use may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.