Today, after months of promising Ontarians that he would not implement a vaccine passport, Premier Doug Ford has broken his promise and done just that.
As of September 22, all Ontario residents will be subject to an “enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate” system, with few exceptions.
Exceptions appear to be limited to some retail stores and essential services. They will also only apply to customers and not employees — though many employers have already imposed vaccine mandates of their own volition.
During a news conference, Ford said that the implementation of vaccine passports resulted from two days of “in-depth conversations” with experts and that he based his decision on “evidence and best advice.”
“We find ourselves responding to our greatest enemy yet, the Delta variant,” Ford said. “Our cautious three-step plan to reopen Ontario was measured. It was a plan that responded to a virus that continued to evolve. We had some of the highest thresholds for loosening restrictions and continued public health measures like indoor masking.
“This cautious approach allowed us to continue delivering record numbers of vaccines while fortifying hospital capacity and keeping COVID cases down.”
He then thanked Ontario residents and said that passports are needed — despite the fact COVID cases are down — to ensure lockdowns are not required down the road.
Premier Ford makes an announcement at Queen's Park https://t.co/dG943wYpbc
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 1, 2021
Again, this is after saying that vaccine passport systems would create a two-tier “split society” and violate fundamental human rights.
The restrictions will include restaurants, bars, nightclubs, meeting and event spaces, banquet halls, convention centres, sports and fitness facilities (except for youth recreational sports), gyms, sporting events, casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments, concerts, music festivals, theatres, cinemas, strip clubs, bathhouses, sex clubs, and racing venues.
In other words, nearly everywhere except for the hospital, churches, personal care businesses, and grocery stores will be vaccine restricted.
“We need to protect our hospitals,” Ford explained, “We need to avoid lockdowns at all costs. We want our kids in schools and our businesses to stay open.”
All Ontario residents will now be required to provide proof of vaccination and will need either a digital (PDF file on your phone) or physical receipt showing that they have had at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine at least two weeks prior, as well as a valid photo identification.
Natural immunity from being previously infected will not count as being immune — neither will a recently acquired negative test for COVID-19. Therefore, only the vaccine will be considered valid as proof of immunity, despite the vaccine not providing complete immunity.
Moreover, though the government says these measures are only temporary, they are already planning to expand the vaccine passport system indefinitely, with QR codes in development for launch on October 22.
Additionally, Ford gave no conditions for the system’s removal.
