Ford government outlines vaccine certificate program following flip-flop

In a dramatic reversal, Premier Doug Ford announced Wednesday that his government would back vaccine certificates within the province of Ontario.

"After in-depth discussions with our medical experts we've landed on a vaccine certificate policy that is based in evidence and best advice," said a chastened-sounding premier, who earlier in the summer scoffed at the idea.

"It's no secret, this is not something I want to do," said the premier, who said it's a "temporary tool" that is "necessary to keep our hospitals safe and avoid another lockdown."

On Wednesday he shifted to make the case for the benefits of the vaccine certificate program. "We want our schools to remain open," added the premier, mindful that most schools reopen for in-class learning in less than a week.

Ford also used the announcement to try to shift responsibility to the federal government. "It's clear that a national system is far better than a patchwork," he argued, blaming federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for not rolling one out and instead focusing on the campaign trail.

He said he asked the government to institute such a passport — which Liberal candidate Bill Blair said is "untrue."

"In fact, Premier Ford asked the federal government to stay out of domestic vaccine passports. Premier Ford has only ever asked for an international version for international travel," he said in a statement.

The program marks yet another big policy reversal by the Ford government.

The change in heart comes a month after Ford ruled out the idea, saying he did not want a "split society" that saw some people enjoy societal privileges while others were left out. "I never believed in proof," said the premier on July 15, issuing a "hard no" to the idea at the time and ruling it out of hand.

But that was before a growing consensus of health experts, business groups, economists, opposition parties and public opinion polls expressed support for the idea, making the PCs an increasingly lonely force defending its position.

Billed as an "enhanced vaccine certificate program" — the PC government had maintained over the past two months that an easily falsified slip of paper was sufficient — the policy sees discretionary higher-risk indoor settings as ones that will require proof of double vaccination or a valid medical exemption.

The policy will be phased in as of Sept. 22, at which point recent negative tests will also be accepted, and will be fully phased in by Oct. 12 when the negative tests will no longer be accepted.

Ontarians will have to show proof of double vaccination or a valid medical exemption through an app on their phone or with a slip of paper that includes a QR code. The settings that will require the proof as of Sept. 22 include: indoor restaurant and bar space, all nightclub spaces, meeting and event sites like banquet halls and conference venues, gym and fitness sites excluding youth facilities, theatres, sporting events, concert halls, strip clubs and more. Photo ID must also be provided.

The policy will not apply to grocery stores, places of worship, voting, restaurant and bar patio spaces, and people under 12 who are not eligible to be vaccinated.

The Liberals organized an all-party online health summit on Monday to discuss the issue with health stakeholders; the PCs were the only party that did not have someone in attendance. Bank economists and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce have urged some kind of vaccine certificate program, in addition to health stakeholders. And the federal Liberals have used the Ontario PC government's reluctance to roll it out as a cudgel on the campaign trail.

And so now, amid rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and health expert warnings about the impact of the fourth wave despite the widespread availability of vaccines, the premier is changing his position.

It was not an easy process to get there. The vaccine certificate policy required at least three cabinet meetings, including one that took place after the premier held a $1,650 in-person fundraiser along with three cabinet ministers last night. The pieces on the policy were still in motion on Wednesday morning hours before it was set to be announced, and a Tuesday announcement that had been expected was delayed.

More to come

With files from Jack Hauen