Mississauga mayor vows made-in-Peel proof of vaccination program if province-wide plan fails to materialize
Published August 26, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is in favour of a made-in-Peel Region proof of vaccination program if the Ontario government fails to come up with a province-wide plan.
During a media briefing today, the mayor stressed the importance of having a policy of identifying the vaccinated from the unvaccinated and stressed she will take matters into her own hands to keep Mississauga residents safe, if she is forced to do so.
“If the Province doesn’t move quickly on province-wide vaccination program I am ready to work closely with (Peel Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh) Dr. Loh and Peel public health in implementing one right here in Peel Region,” she said.
Crombie said there has been discussion about a local plan if not joining in with nearby health units and other municipalities to allow people to flow more easily between communities.
Still, Crombie insisted a province-wide program is the best step.
Pointing out that an increasing number of businesses and public bodies are demanding proof vaccination, the mayor said a unifying program needs to be in place to avoid confusion as well as to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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“We need the Ontario government to step up and implement a standardized program that provides residents with an easy to download, COVID-19 immunization record, or proof of a medical exemption or of a negative test, that can be stored on a phone or easily printed out,” said Crombie. “Without one we will end up with a patchwork of apps and programs that will confuse people and won’t protect public health.”
While earlier in the day reports surfaced that the Association of Medical Officers of Health in Ontario has given the Province a September 1 deadline before coming up with their own vaccination certificate plan, Dr. Loh said that kind of talk is premature.
However, Dr. Loh didn’t rule out Crombie’s idea of a local plan.
Dr. Loh said that implementing a proof of vaccination program is a way to avoid broader community measures such as the ones implemented in the past when strict lockdowns were put into place.
He said proof of vaccinations would keep those who have not been fully vaccinated safe by preventing them from going into areas where COVID-19 can spread.
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