Question Period Note: COVID-19 proof of vaccination

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• What is the Government of Canada doing to help ensure Canadians can continue to access their Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination to meet proof of vaccination requirements when travelling internationally?
• Helping Canadians get safely back to the activities and interactions they value most is a priority for the Government of Canada.
• The standardized COVID-19 proof of vaccination credential helps Canadians demonstrate their vaccination status in a secure and reliable way when travelling internationally where many of our largest foreign partners require it.
• The Government of Canada has been working closely with provinces and territories to support the continued issuance of a standardized pan-Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination credential, providing a secure way to prove one’s vaccination status.
• As announced in the fall 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update, the Government has established a $300M COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to support provinces and territories for costs incurred to implement a COVID-19 proof of vaccination credential program. This includes costs to issue proof of vaccination credentials to their residents, and to maintain these credentials as long as needed.
• Budget 2022 also included $18 million in 2022-23 for the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue work with provincial and territorial governments, and with international partners, to ensure that the Canadian proof of vaccination credential remains valid, secure, and accessible to all Canadians.
• This will ensure Canadians can continue to travel and meet proof of vaccination requirements both domestically and internationally.

Background
Proof of vaccination credentials have been used to support the implementation of vaccination mandates at various levels (federal, provincial/territorial, etc.). Since the end of November 2021, all provinces and territories have been issuing proof of vaccination credentials consistent with a “pan-Canadian specification” which helps ensure credentials across Canada follow a common look-and-feel, are digitally verifiable, and contain the same data fields. As of May 20, 2022, provinces and territories that had broad vaccination requirements have rolled them back, though some have retained requirements in specific settings (e.g., long term care homes) and others are giving businesses the option to continue asking for proof of vaccination at their discretion. To date, all jurisdictions are continuing to issue the Canadian PVC. Key international partners continue to require proof of vaccination to enter the country and/or access certain facilities, including two G7 countries: the United States and Japan.

As announced in the Economic and Fiscal Update 2021, the Government of Canada has established a $300M COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to support provinces and territories for costs to implement a COVID-19 proof of vaccination credential program. The amount reflects an estimate of what provinces and territories have spent to issue these credentials, as well as anticipated costs to maintain the credential programs as long as needed going forward. Additional details will follow regarding the apportionment of the Fund across provinces and territories, and expectations associated with the receipt of funds.

Budget 2022 also included $18 million in 2022-23 for the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue work with provincial and territorial governments, and with international partners, to ensure that the Canadian proof of vaccination credential remains valid, secure, and accessible to all Canadians.

In addition to collaboration with provinces and territories, the Government has engaged with Indigenous communities and organizations to ensure proof of vaccination credentials meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples. Since May 2021, a series of engagement sessions have been held with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, including communities that are close to the U.S. border, and those involved in frequent cross-border travel for cultural, work or familial purposes. Engagement will continue as required.

• The Government of Canada has established a $300M COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to support provinces and territories for costs to implement a COVID-19 proof of vaccination credential program. This Fund will help ensure Canadians can continue to access their Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination to meet proof of vaccination requirements when travelling internationally.
• All provinces and territories that had implemented widespread vaccination requirements within their jurisdictions have since removed them, though requirements remain in place in some high-risk settings. To date, all jurisdictions are continuing to issue the Canadian proof of vaccination credential. Federal vaccination requirements at Canadian borders remain in place, though requirements for domestic air and rail travel and for Government of Canada employees have been lifted.
• Many foreign countries also continue to require proof of vaccination for entry by foreign travellers.