Starting today (September 1), residents of Quebec are required to show proof of vaccination to access businesses and events that the government deems non-essential, such as restaurants, gyms and festivals.
The government has said the passport system is necessary to keep the economy open and limit COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Millions of people in the province have been issued QR codes by the Health Department containing their vaccination statuses.
They must present the codes along with identification to do such things as eat at restaurants or work out at gyms. Provincial Health Minister Christian Dube said the next two weeks will be a grace period during which penalties for non-compliance won't be enforced.
But, starting September 15, people and businesses caught violating the health order can face thousands of dollars in fines for non-compliance.
