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https://www.besthealthmag.ca/article/vaccine-passport-canada/
A Province-by-Province Guide to Vaccine Passports in Canada
Best Health
2021-10-25
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As the Delta variant continues to fuel a fourth wave of COVID-19 in Canada, some provincial and territorial governments have begun to require residents over a certain age to provide proof of vaccination (dubbed “vaccine passports”) for access to non-essential events and businesses. Those who are not vaccinated will not be permitted to go to gyms, restaurants, movie theatres, and more.
In September, Canada’s vaccination rate started levelling off across the country, leading to an uptick in COVID cases, especially among the unvaccinated population. The hope is that vaccine passports will encourage unvaccinated Canadians to get immunized. In Quebec, the first province to announce a vaccine passport plan, the number of COVID-19 vaccine bookings doubled after the system was announced. Currently, about 84 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.
Here is everything you need to know about vaccine passports in Canada, including which provinces and territories have announced their plans. This piece will be updated as more vaccine passport systems are rolled out.
(Related: Experts Advise Being ‘Super Safe’ As Canada Enters the 4th Wave of COVID)
Federal
The federal government has announced a standardized proof of vaccination in an effort to facilitate domestic and international travel. Unlike some provinces which have physical proof of vaccination cards, the federal vaccine passport will be in the form of a digital QR code. All of Canada's provinces and territories will be moving forward with the federal vaccine passport, meaning that eventually Canadians will be able to present their federal QR code as proof of vaccination, no matter where in Canada they received their vaccinations.
On October 21, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the pan-Canadian proof of vaccination is now available to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. The vaccine passport is expected to be available in more provinces soon. The federal standardized proof of vaccination went into effect on October 30 and is required by travellers 12 and over boarding domestic flights or trains. Canadians travelling internationally will be required to present their passport along with their federal QR code, which can also be used with the ArriveCan mobile app when returning to Canada.
British Columbia
Starting September 13, proof of vaccination will be required for residents aged 12 and up accessing social events like ticketed sporting events, indoor concerts, indoor theatre/dance/symphony events, and indoor organized events like conferences and weddings. Proof of vaccination will also be required when visiting non-essential businesses like patio and indoor dining at restaurants, fitness centres, casinos, night clubs, and movie theatres.
A secure weblink was provided by the B.C. government granting access to proof of vaccination and allowing users to save the info to their phones. Under the new policy, any out-of-province Canadian visiting B.C. have to show proof of vaccination and valid government ID from their home province to access non-essential businesses and activities.
Alberta
On September 15, Alberta declared a state of public health emergency and announced a "Restrictions Exemption Program." As of September 20, the measure required people aged 12 or older to provide government-issued proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to access restaurants, indoor gatherings, retail and gyms. Those opting to get a COVID-19 test instead of vaccinations must present proof of a negative privately paid test, either PCR or Rapid Test, from within the previous 72 hours. Those with medical exception are required to provide documentation.
Effective November 15, Alberta now requires proof of vaccination to be presented as a QR code. Alberta COVID-19 vaccine records with a QR code are available online, and can be easily saved on a smartphone or printed out. Albertans can also receive a free printed vaccination records and QR code via a registry agent office or by calling 811. Businesses require patrons to present their proof of vaccination QR code along with a valid ID.