Mississauga mayor welcomes Ontario’s enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificate program

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Published September 1, 2021 at 7:40 pm

After weeks of pressing for it, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie says she is glad to see that Ontario will adopt a proof-of-vaccination system in the coming weeks.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in his first media availability in 32 days, announced Wednesday (Sept. 1) that residents will soon have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before they can enter certain businesses and attend certain events. The requirement, which applies to all who are eligible to be vaccinated, will take effect on Sept. 22. However, the policies will be for customers and visitors and not staff. That requirement is up to the employer.

“I sincerely thank the Government of Ontario and Premier Doug Ford for announcing today a province-wide enhanced vaccine certificate program that will require Ontario residents 12 and older to show proof of vaccination, or a medical exemption, before entering certain non-essential indoor settings where making is not always possible,” Crombie stated.

“For weeks, I have been strongly advocating for a proof of vaccination program, along with other mayors across Ontario, health excepts and chambers of commerce,” the mayor added.

The City of Mississauga has already announced a mandatory vaccine policy for its employees. Crombie noted that the program will make it easier for employees to provide proof to their employers.

“Above all else, the new enhanced vaccine certificate program will protect the health of Ontarians and the healthcare system.”

For the first month at least, Ontarians will be required to provide a paper or PDF vaccine receipt as well as identification.

An online app that will allow Ontarians to display their vaccination status on a mobile device is expected to be released around Oct. 22.

British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec have each introduced vaccine certificates that are app-based. They are not expected to become permanent..

Federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners also released guidance in May in regard to how to have a vaccine certificate system that protected individual privacy.

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