Covid-19 Bulletin No.44: Ontario's new vaccine certification program

ONTARIO’S NEW VACCINE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The Provincial Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced that starting September 22^nd, 2021, proof of vaccination along with photo ID will be required at many non-essential businesses in Ontario under the Province of Ontario’s new COVID-19 vaccine certification program.

A vaccine certificate will not be required for retail shopping or outdoor dining but those who intend to go to concerts or other large, organized gatherings must be fully vaccinated and proof must be provided.

Pursuant to the Province of Ontario’s new COVID-19 vaccine certification program, proof of vaccination along with photo ID will be required at the following indoor facilities:

• restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor dining);
• nightclubs;
• meetings and event spaces, such as conference centres;
• facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal training fitness, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities (excluding youth recreational sport);
• sporting events, casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments; and
• concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas.

Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated individuals with medical exemptions and children under the age of 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.

The government confirmed that a negative test or recent COVID-19 infection will not entitle a person to enter these settings.

The Provincial Government is working on an app that will combine photo ID and a proof-of-vaccination certificate for immunized Ontarians, which will be embedded into a personalized QR code. The app should be ready on or around October 22^nd 2021. A separate app is also in the works that will allow businesses to verify the contents of the QR code.

How can I get my proof of vaccination?

Individuals can provide proof of immunization by downloading or printing their vaccine receipt from the provincial portal, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Line at 1-833-943-3900. Individuals who received their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine out of province should contact their local public health unit to record their information and receive proper documentation.

How will the government enforce the requirement for proof of vaccination?

Consistent with current practices under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c. 17 (the “Reopening Ontario Act”) enforcement will be conducted by by-law officers and the Ministry of Labour inspectors, which shall begin with education and warnings.

Please refer to our previous COVID-19 Bulletins, which contain information on recommended protocols and procedures to be implemented condominiums.

Please ensure that you speak with legal counsel if your condominium does not already have COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to help manage the risks associated with COVID-19.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our team:

All of the information contained in this article is of a general nature for informational purposes only, and is not intended to represent the definitive opinion of the firm of Elia Associates on any particular matter. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, the reader should not act upon it without obtaining appropriate professional advice and assistance.