Omicron means Ontario’s vaccine passport will be around ‘for at least another several months,’ Christine Elliott says

Thestar.com
Dec. 7, 2021
Robert Benzie

Ontario’s vaccine passport will be around much longer than next month, Health Minister Christine Elliott concedes.

With the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, Elliott said Monday the provisional Jan. 17 date to begin phasing out the QR code pass will have to be delayed.

“We anticipate we will need it for at least another several months if everything is all right, and maybe longer than that once we know more about the Omicron variant,” the minister told the legislature.

“We are waiting to find out what the data is, what it is that we’re dealing with with this variant, but we’re continuing to ask people to continue to follow those public health measures, to continue to get vaccinated, to continue to get the vaccine certificate,” she said.

Elliott noted that when the Jan. 17 phaseout date was announced in October the more contagious Omicron variant had not yet been detected.

“As to when it’s actually going to be lifted, we have the plan that we put in place several months ago, but we do have this new variant -- we do have Omicron.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath blasted the Progressive Conservatives for not spelling things out sooner.

“(Premier) Doug Ford’s end date for vaccination certificates always was a dog whistle to anti-vaxxers,” said Horwath.

“Mr. Ford’s message is: ‘it’s OK to wait it out instead of getting a vaccine,’” she said.

“Vaccine certificates help to protect Ontarians and small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic -- they’re a critical part of avoiding more lockdown measures.”

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said “Doug Ford needs to confirm that businesses can use the vaccine certificate for as long as it’s needed.”

“This is about keeping Ontarians safe, and the province open. The January date was arbitrary, irresponsible and a gift to anti-vaxxers. It should (have) never been announced,” Del Duca said on Twitter.

On Oct. 22, Ford emphasized the government would take a “cautious” approach to lifting any restrictions, like the vaccine passport required for indoor patronage of restaurants, bars, theatres, arenas, and other venues.

“If we do not see the numbers in a stable place, we just aren’t going to do it. It’s as simple as that,” he said, noting Dr. Kieran Moore, the chief medical officer of health, would have the ultimate say.

Moore, for his part, said six weeks ago that Jan. 17 was an “absolutely appropriate (time) to review the data.”

“That will give us an opportunity to review the preceding two months of potential activity within Ontario,” he said Oct. 22.

“It’ll let us get through the holiday season and analyze if there’s been any spread within social settings or in other workplace settings to make an informed decision.”