The move towards a COVID-19 vaccine passport is getting approval, even if it came later than expected.
Provincial officials unveiled the program that will commence on September 22 with the goal to shift to certificates that include QR codes on October 22.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro, speaking Wednesday at the Grand Opening of the Brill Trolley Buses and Dedication Ceremony at the Alexander Henry, believes this would have happened without government involvement.
“To me it seems quite clear this is where it’s going,” Mauro remarked. “This is just going to facilitate a process that’s going to happen organically if the province didn’t mandate it. It seems that this government hesitated and seems uncertain in terms of the direction that they want to take. If they weren’t going to do it, I would argue that other groups and organizations were prepared to do it on their own.”
The passport will be required for gyms, theatres, concerts, and dining, among other indoor locations.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan Liberal MPP Michael Gravelle says despite the Premier pointing the fingers at the federal government for no national vaccine passport, the provinces run the health care system in Canada.
“A number of provinces have (implemented a vaccine passport program) understanding indeed that it is their responsibility to do so,” Gravelle added. “We felt, for some time, that indeed it was important that the Progressive Conservative government here in Ontario make that move.”
Chamber of Commerce President Charla Robinson feels businesses are missing guidance with this plan.
Robinson notes that while the province doesn’t have the authority to force employers to get their employees vaccinated, two departments do play a role in this policy.
“The Ministry of Labour is the one that set up all of the workplace guidelines for health and safety and it’s the Ministry of the Attorney General that institutes what and you can and can’t do in terms of laws,” noted Robinson.
When it comes to the Silvercity Thunder Bay cinema, Vice President of Communications, Content Marketing and Social Media Sarah Van Lange released the following statement:
We are reviewing today’s announcement and what it will mean for movie-lovers in Ontario. We follow guidelines set forth by all levels of government and will of course comply with directives, as is the case in Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba who have also announced province-wide programs.
In the meantime, we continue to focus on the health and safety of our employees and guests. We are confident in our approach and our health and safety track record, noting that we have welcomed millions of movie-lovers during the pandemic, and we’ve had zero instances of transmission traced back to any of our cinemas.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell was unavailable for comment.
