Quebecers and businesses react to day one of vaccine passports
Posted September 1, 2021 6:52 pm.
MONTREAL (CityNews) – COVID vaccine passports are officially being used in Quebec.
Everyone 13 and up will need to pull out their phone and have their QR codes scanned through the free VaxiCode app or a piece of paper showing and show a QR code to access some non-essential businesses.
Quebecers must show photo ID if aged 16 and over, but those 75+ don’t need to.
Some Quebecers CityNews spoke with said they were liking the new vaccine passport program.
“We’re going to go to a restaurant right now and going to go use it for the first time so very excited about that.”
“It was not a difficult process. Anyway, we have to show our ID to get in so it was not anything different, so you show your phone too. It was simple.”
“It’s not going to hurt me in any way so I’ll do it for the better cause.”
Some others said they forgot the program was starting on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately I did not pay attention to the dates… now I’m stopped and I was asked to show the passport and I’m trying to have it.”
“This is our last day in Montreal, were a little surprised, but I think it’s great. We didn’t have our paperwork today so we have to go back and get it. It’s in the hotel.”
There will be a two-week grace period with no penalties for businesses to be able to adapt, but unvaccinated people are already getting refused entry.
“That’s what I told them this morning for those who couldn’t come in, we don’t make the rules. Rules are there and they need to be followed,” explained Grace Candido, the owner of l’Oeufrier de la Montagne.
“Yes they’re going to be lenient for the next two weeks but it’s not taking advantage of it.
“I think this is what needed to be done just to just move on and get back to our normal life.”
“You’re more relaxed because if they don’t have the vaccine or if the vax app doesn’t work, we’re not scared of getting a ticket,” explained Ziggy Eichenbaum, the owner of Ziggy’s pub. “But after the fifteenth, if you’re not double vaccinated you’re not getting in.”
