WE LIP Info Sharing Sept 2, 2021

Ontario to Require Proof of Vaccination in Select Settings

News Release

Premier's Office

September 01, 2021

Province to launch enhanced vaccine certificate and verification app to stop the spread of COVID-19

TORONTO — To further protect Ontarians as the province continues to confront the Delta-driven fourth wave of the COVID-19, the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings starting September 22, 2021. Requiring proof of vaccination in these settings reduces risk and is an important step to encourage every last eligible Ontarian to get their shot, which is critical to protecting the province’s hospital capacity, while also supporting businesses with the tools they need to keep customers safe, stay open and minimize disruptions.

“As the world continues its fight against the Delta variant, our government will never waver in our commitment to do what’s necessary to keep people safe, protect our hospitals and minimize disruptions to businesses,” said Premier Ford. “Based on the latest evidence and best advice, COVID-19 vaccine certificates give us the best chance to slow the spread of this virus while helping us to avoid further lockdowns. If you haven’t received your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please do so today.”

As of September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. This approach focuses on higher-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn and includes:

Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout);

Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment);

Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres;

Facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal fitness training, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport;

Sporting events;

Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments;

Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas;

Strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs;

Racing venues (e.g., horse racing).

These mandatory requirements would not apply to outdoor settings where the risk of transmission is lower, including patios, with the exception of outdoor nightclub spaces given the risk associated with the setting. In addition, these requirements will not apply to settings where people receive medical care, food from grocery stores, medical supplies and the like. Aligned with public health measures currently in place, indoor masking policies will continue to remain in place.

“We know vaccines provide the best protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “To protect the health and well-being of Ontarians, our government will offer one more tool to encourage even more Ontarians to receive the vaccine and provide further protection to fully vaccinated Ontarians as they safely enjoy activities with their loved ones and support their local businesses.”

Individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate. Children who are 11 years of age and younger and unable to be vaccinated will also be exempted from these requirements.

For the period between September 22 and October 12, 2021, it is intended that people attending wedding or funeral receptions at meeting or event spaces will be able to provide a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test from no more than 48 hours before the event as an alternative to proof of vaccination. These rapid antigen tests would have to be privately purchased.

Ontario will develop and provide additional tools to improve user experience, efficiency and business supports in the coming weeks, including establishing alternative tools for people with no email, health card or ID. The government will work to support implementation of vaccine certificates for Indigenous communities whether or not they have opted to enter their data into COVaxON, while maintaining Indigenous data governance, control, access and possession principles.

Ontarians currently have access to a paper or PDF vaccine receipt that includes all relevant information to prove that they are fully vaccinated. As of September 22, Ontarians will be required to show their vaccine receipt when entering designated settings along with another piece of photo identification, such as a driver’s licence or health card. This is similar initial implementation approach announced in British Columbia.
Ontario will also introduce an enhanced digital vaccine receipt that features a QR code, which is safe, more secure and with you wherever you go. This digital vaccine receipt can be kept on a phone and easily used to show that you've been vaccinated if you need to. In addition, the province will launch a new app to make it easier and more convenient for businesses and organizations to read and verify that a digital vaccine receipt is valid, while protecting your privacy.

As the 2021-22 school year begins, it is critical to keep Ontario schools safe and students learning in-person. The province will work with trusted public health units to use the existing COVaxON system to safely and securely confirm the vaccination status of students. The province is committed to keeping parents informed about how their child’s COVID-19 vaccine information and enrollment data is being used to keep schools safe. This will equip local public health units with the information they need to ensure rapid case and contact management if required to limit disruptions in the event of cases or outbreaks and keep kids in class.

“We are already seeing a rise in the number of cases of COVD-19 as we head into the fall,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “As we enter the last mile push to increase vaccination rates, the introduction of a vaccine certificate is an important step to give people the tools to limit further spread of the virus so that we can ensure the safety of all Ontarians while keeping the province open and operational.”

“Combining the use of a QR code with a trusted, made in Ontario verifier app will help support the province’s health measures,” said Kaleed Rasheed, Associate Minister of Digital Government. “These tools will provide a simpler, faster, and better way to prove vaccination status that is both convenient and secure – while also supporting businesses with an easy validation process.”

Quick Facts

Individuals can provide proof of immunization by downloading or printing their vaccine receipt from the provincial booking portal, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900.

Ontarians 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.

The province will continue to work with the federal government to ensure the integration and interoperability with a national vaccine passport for the purposes of international travel.

The government is continuing its last mile strategy to reach eligible individuals who have yet to receive a first or second dose.

To protect vulnerable patients and staff in settings where the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 and the Delta variant is higher, the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health is pausing the province’s exit from the Roadmap to Reopen and providing third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable populations. The CMOH is also making COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory in higher-risk settings.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently available at over 3,150 locations across the province, including more than 2,500 pharmacies and more than 650 mass immunization clinics, hospitals, primary care settings and pop up and mobile clinics.

A key component of Ontario’s last mile strategy is getting vaccines to people, wherever they are located. If you need your first or second shot, keep an eye out for our new GO-VAXX mobile clinics.

Ontario Reinstating Renewal Requirements for Driver’s Licences, Licence Plate Stickers and Health Cards

News Release

Ministry of Transportation

September 01, 2021

Ontarians are strongly encouraged to renew their documents online at ServiceOntario.ca

TORONTO – The Ontario government is reinstating renewal requirements for driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, Ontario Photo Cards, Ontario health cards, and other products that would have expired on or after March 1, 2020, but were extended to provide immediate relief to Ontarians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those needing to renew their provincial documents are encouraged to use ServiceOntario’s convenient and easy-to-use online option.

To ensure everyone has enough time to renew, Ontario has extended the renewal deadlines for most driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, and Ontario Photo Cards and health cards until February 28, 2022.

“The majority of Ontarians have continued to renew their documents during the pandemic, despite unprecedented challenges,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “It’s critical that drivers and vehicle owners have up-to-date documents for work, access to services and travel, and to keep our roads safe. I strongly encourage those who have deferred their renewals – approximately 17 per cent of Ontarians – to plan ahead and renew their documents online.”

Heavy commercial vehicle owners will need to renew their vehicle validations by December 31, 2021. Novice licence holders (class G1, G2, M1 or M2) will have until December 31, 2022, to requalify for or upgrade their novice driver’s licence. People who have not renewed their products during the Extended Validity period will be required to pay the fee for previous years, in addition to the current year renewal fee.

To make it easier for people to renew their driver’s licences online, Ontario has temporarily waived requirements for people to renew their driver’s licences in person, including those for senior drivers. Eligible drivers can renew their driver’s licence online at ServiceOntario.ca, including those aged 80 and over.

For a complete list of renewal deadlines, please visit Ontario.ca/RenewalDeadlines.

As part of the government’s commitment to developing convenient and accessible services for Ontarians, ServiceOntario now offers more than 40 services online. To reduce wait times, we are encouraging all eligible Ontarians to skip the line and easily and quickly renew products online. Products will be mailed directly with an ability to print proof of renewal.

“Our government is making life easier and more convenient for Ontarians through simple and fast online renewal options available 24/7,” said Ross Romano, Minister of Government and Consumer Services. “Customers can skip the lines by renewing their documents through ServiceOntario’s easy-to-use and secure online services right from the comfort and safety of their home.”

“From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government’s top priority has been ensuring the health and well-being of Ontarians,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "As more people continue to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, it is important that people renew their health cards so they can continue to quickly access the high-quality health care services that they need, when they need them."
If you need to visit in-person, enhanced health and safety measures are in place at ServiceOntario centres. More than 40 ServiceOntario centres offer appointment booking to reduce wait times and ensure speedy service. You can book an appointment in advance by visiting Ontario.ca/Appointment.

Quick Facts

In March 2020, the government acted quickly to extend the validity of driver’s licences, licence plate stickers and Ontario Photo Cards and health cards to reduce the need for people to visit a ServiceOntario centre, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and provide relief for Ontarians.

To renew your driver’s licence online and have the products mailed directly to you, please visit ServiceOntario.ca/DriversLicence.

To renew your licence plate stickers online and have the products mailed directly to you, please visit ServiceOntario.ca/PlateSticker.

To renew your driver’s licence and health card together online, please visit Ontario.ca/renew.

If you need a road test to maintain, upgrade or renew your driver’s licence, please visit DriveTest.ca, the only official channel for booking a road test. You should never give your driver’s licence to a third party or an unknown website and DriveTest will never charge you an additional fee to book or reschedule a road test.

All eligible accessible parking permits with expiry dates between March 17, 2020, and February 28, 2022, must be renewed before March 1, 2022.

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Ontario to Require Proof of Vaccination in Select Settings

Ontario Reinstating Renewal Requirements for Driver’s Licences, Licence Plate Stickers and Health Cards