Proof-of-vaccination system must expand, opposition argues
Ford defends program in first news conference since its announcement
Premier Doug Ford is defending Ontario’s new COVID-19 vaccination certificate system that took effect Wednesday, saying it will help keep transmission of the virus under control and be scrapped as soon as conditions allow.
“We can’t afford to shut down again or experience a sudden surge in cases like we’re seeing in other provinces,” Ford told his first news conference since announcing the program on Sept. 1.
“We will only use these certificates for as long as they are needed and not one day longer,” he added, noting it’s not possible yet to set an expiration date.
Under the system, proof-of-vaccination certificates and government-issued identification such as a driver’s licence or health card must be shown to enter gyms, theatres, indoor restaurant dining, sports and other non-essential venues, including casinos.
Patrons must be 14 days past their second shot of Health Canada-approved vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca (or its Covishield equivalent), or provide a note from a doctor or nurse confirming a legitimate medical exemption, such as an allergy to vaccine ingredients, myocarditis or pericarditis.
Almost 80 per cent of eligible Ontarians over age 12 are double vaccinated.
Opposition parties again called on Ford to expand vaccine passports to more non-essential venues and services, such as malls and places of worship, and to require employees of affected organizations to be fully vaccinated as well.
Loopholes in the system are “big enough to have COVID-19 actually pour right through them,” said New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath, pushing for “all non-essential activities and businesses” to be covered.
“Leaving salons and barber shops off the list does not make sense,” said Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who urged the premier to provide financial support to businesses to cover the additional costs of checking and enforcing vaccination certificates.
That call was echoed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The certificate or passport system does not apply to essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
As he has indicated previously, Ford said he resisted the certificates because they limit “civil liberties” but believes they are necessary in the face of the highly contagious Delta variant.
“This is a special circumstance,” he said.
“I know that this is a divisive issue.”
Despite a provincial election looming next June 2, Ford said he is “not concerned” that his Progressive Conservative government could face protests like those seen in the recent federal election campaign over the vaccination certificates.
The premier did not set out any specific criteria for ending the vaccine certificate system, such as an acceptable daily level of new COVID-19 cases or hospital admissions, but said he will rely upon advice from chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore and the volunteer science table of advisers.
Ontario’s passport system kicked in on a day when the website for downloading proof of vaccination had been offline for scheduled maintenance overnight, which Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca called “another example of the lack of competence” from the government.
The website was swamped several times throughout the morning, resulting in slow responses.
Several gyms said some patrons were turned away Wednesday when they arrived to work out unaware of the new system.
Horwath said the government should have conducted a comprehensive advertising campaign to explain the system instead of mostly relying on social media.
“There’s just been no communication, no information, no supports,” she said. “That’s a recipe for failure.”
Fines for flouting the vaccination certificate system — such as providing false information or letting people into designated businesses without proof of two shots — start at $750 for individuals and $1,000 for businesses.
But Ford said enforcement will “be reasonable to business owners,” and initially focus on education rather than fines.
Ontario reported seven more COVID-19 deaths and 463 new cases on Wednesday, the lowest number of new infections since mid-August.
The seven-day average for new cases was 692 after stabilizing in recent weeks.
Ford said the statistics show the province is “holding the line” on the pandemic for now.
“Ontario has had the most cautious reopening of any province,” he added.
“Let’s protect the hard-fought gains we’ve made.”