TORONTO – Ontario Liberals are calling for strengthened vaccine certificates to ensure a safe reopening of Ontario’s economy, so that businesses are not shut down again. Doug Ford is resisting calls from his own public health experts for stronger certificates despite urgent calls from doctors and opposition parties across Ontario.
“With lives and livelihoods at stake, we cannot afford Doug Ford bungling another reopening,” stated Ontario Liberal Leader, Steven Del Duca. “He needs to strengthen the vaccine certificate now to make sure this reopening is permanent, so that we can all get back to doing the things we love sooner, and so that businesses are not shut down again.”
Last week Ontario Liberals were the first to call for vaccine certificates to require three doses instead of two. Now Del Duca is building on that call by suggesting LCBOs, cannabis stores and non-essential retail should be added to the program.
The Ontario Liberal Plan includes:
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Updating COVID-19 vaccine certificates to require boosters and changing the definition of “fully vaccinated” to three doses.
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Expanding the use of vaccine certificates to include LCBOs, cannabis stores, and non-essential retail.
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Bringing in emergency curbside pick-up at LCBOs for those who remain unvaccinated to ensure individuals with alcohol dependence can continue accessing alcohol and are not put at risk.
“Doug Ford’s Conservatives are leaving Ontarians vulnerable by failing to strengthen vaccine certificates before the province’s reopening begins,” added Del Duca. “Ontario’s top doctors, including the Scientific Director of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, are calling for strengthened vaccine certificates. Ontarians have had enough of the dithering and delays when it comes to Doug Ford’s pandemic response.”
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