Vaccine passport debate spills into Alberta's streets
A debate over whether private businesses should ask for proof of vaccination before allowing access to Albertans is raging on.
Hospitalization numbers in the province ticked up this week, and they continued to reveal a trend: those who are fully vaccinated have far less risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19.
As immunization numbers stall and the Delta variant impacts more residents, some in the province want an added layer of protection. They say that could come in the form of vaccination proof for admission to services.
"We're in the process of wrestling through the question now of whether or not vaccinations will be mandatory," Knox United Church Reverend Doctor Greg Glatz said. "Part of being a sanctuary, part of being a refuge, is being safe. The vaccination is a way to be safe."
The church is still primarily online, but when in-person worship resumes in mid-September, Glatz says it could ask for proof of vaccination from its congregation.
He says he's well aware of the impact that could have.
"While we are progressive in our theology, we attract people from a broad range of perspectives," Glatz said. "So we are trying to have that dialogue between different perspectives."
While Knox United hasn't yet made a decision, others have.
About 50 people gathered in Calgary's Tomkins Park to speak out against the potential of vaccine passports Saturday night.
They believe the move would take away some of their freedoms. Many at the rally held anti-vaccination signs and spoke of government overreach.
In Quebec, digital vaccine certifications will be required to enter some non-essential services starting in September. It will be used to allow access to events like festivals, and some restaurants, bars and gyms. The passport will store vaccine information that can be accessed through a QR code.
Large companies like Live Nation and MLSE announced this week they will require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test at all of their events.
And the issue is already following candidates along the federal election campaign trail.
Alberta's premier made his views clear in July.
“We've been very clear from the beginning that we will not facilitate or accept vaccine passports," Jason Kenney said. "I believe that they would, in principle, contravene the Health Information Act and also possibly the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. These folks who are concerned about mandatory vaccines have nothing to be concerned about."
Legal experts say that if done correctly, vaccine passports do not violate privacy laws.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.