Vaccination rates continue to climb across Canada, which has allowed provinces to slowly remove COVID-19 measures and allow people a sense of normalcy.
To limit the spread of COVID-19 provinces like British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec have introduced a vaccine passport that provides proof of vaccination to allow people access to non-essential services.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole joined the Q Morning Show this morning to share his thoughts on a country-wide vaccine passport if elected.
“Vaccines are the safest tool. I’ve been public with how I think everyone should be vaccinated, it is a personal decision. I want to partner with the provinces and not pick fights as Mr. Trudeau has,” said O’Toole
“I want to make sure the federal government delivers what it should, which is vaccines early, I want to build up domestic capacity for all of these critical things that we scrambled for months to get,” added O’Toole
O’Toole went onto say that he wants to make sure that Canada is never unprepared again in a time of crisis. This crisis prevention is a key pillar in the Conservative's “Canada’s Recovery Plan” to create stockpiles of essential products and build the capacity to manufacture vaccines at home.
In addition, some provinces have put in place mandatory vaccine policies in high-risk and provincial work settings. If proof of full vaccination, a medical reason for not being vaccinated, or the completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational session has not been shown, employees will have to undergo regular antigen testing.
To date in Canada 82.1 per cent of those aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 72.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.
O'Toole continues his campaign today in Ottawa, as he will be making an annoucment and a virtual town hall with Nova Scotia to follow.