Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a standardized proof of vaccination for Canadian travelers at Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, October 21, 2021. Image courtesy CPAC.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a standardized proof of vaccination for Canadian travelers at Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, October 21, 2021. Image courtesy CPAC.
Windsor

Trudeau unveils proof of vaccination for travellers

Canadian travellers will soon have a uniform method of proving they are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped by the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa Thursday to unveil the federal government's plan for a standard, provincially issued proof-of-vaccination for people who travel within Canada and abroad.

"We made a commitment to ensure that there is a national standard for a proof-of-vaccination certificate that will be issued by every province and territory so that people can travel domestically, but particularly internationally," said Trudeau. "Today I'm happy to confirm that all provinces and territories will be moving forward with a standardized national proof-of vaccination."

So far, five provinces, including Ontario, and all three territories have the standard in place, with the rest of the country to follow suit shortly. The proof is issued by the appropriate provincial ministry of health. It can also be used with the ArriveCAN app, where travellers can submit mandatory information when arriving in Canada.

With 83 per cent of eligible Canadians now vaccinated, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the standard vaccination proof represents a new chapter in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

"Thankfully, we're now in a new phase, one that is different from the darkest days in the fight against COVID," said Freeland. "We have recovered lost jobs, vaccination rates are high and will get higher as it becomes possible to vaccinate more of our children, borders are reopening, and the fourth wave appears to be coming under control."

The standard proof-of-vaccination will coincide with new travel standards that take effect on Saturday, October 30. On that date, all travellers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains will need to be fully vaccinated, along with all passengers on flights entering and leaving Canada, and cruise ship passengers on voyages lasting at least 24 hours.

Employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine sectors will also have to be vaccinated.

Complete information on the standardized proof of vaccination can be found on the Government of Canada's official website.

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