Enforcement Supports
Ontario is in Step 3 of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen.
The Town's By-law Services Division continues to work collaboratively with all enforcement personnel, including the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Health Unit, on appropriate enforcement of the Provincial Orders, including a combination of proactive and reactive patrols. Achieving compliance with public health-related orders and regulations has been a priority for the Town of Collingwood as it continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEW - Effective September 22, 2021, under O. Reg. 364/20, the Ontario government will require patrons 12 years of age and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status along with proof of identity to access certain businesses and facilities.
Requiring proof of vaccination is an important measure to limit COVID-19 transmission and outbreaks, encourage vaccination, and support Ontario’s businesses in remaining open. Businesses and organizations are responsible for ensuring they meet the requirement to check for proof of vaccination and proof of identification from patrons. Patrons are required to ensure that any information provided to the business or organization to demonstrate proof of vaccination or proof of identification is accurate.
Non-compliance by individuals or businesses can result in charges and fines, under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA). All Provincial Offences Officers, including by-law, police, public health inspectors and regulatory officers from several ministries may provide education and enforcement of all the requirements under the ROA, including the new proof of vaccination requirement.
The following resources are available to support businesses and organizations in implementing proof of vaccination:
- Ontario Regulation 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step
- Ministry of Health Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Business and Organization under the Reopening Ontario Act – Version 1 (September 14, 2021)
- Ministry of Health Proof of Vaccination Questions and Answers – Version 1 (September 14, 2021)
- Ontario Government COVID-19 Vaccine Update: The Last Mile Technical Briefing (September 14, 2021) – see slides 8-20 for specific information on operationalizing the proof of vaccination requirement
- Using your Vaccination Receipt: Frequently Asked Questions
- SMDHU’s Proof of Vaccination webpage – includes information on how to obtain proof of vaccination.
The province's Stop the Spread Business Information Line is also available at 1-888-444-3659 to answer questions from businesses regarding COVID-19 emergency measures.
Below you will find contact information for various COVID-19-related enforcement concerns.
| Complaint/Inquiry | Referral/Contact Information |
|---|---|
| Complaint about someone refusing to leave my business as a result of requesting to see proof of vaccination | Contact the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 |
| Complaint about a restaurant (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout) not checking for proof of vaccination | Contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
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| Complaint about a bar / nightclub not checking for proof of vaccination | Please visit iAGCO Online Services to submit a complaint to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) about the conduct of a business they regulate. You can also contact the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 |
| Complaint about a gym / recreational facility (excluding public pools) not checking for proof of vaccination |
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| Complaint about a public pool not checking for proof of vaccination | Contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
|
| Complaint about non-essential business operating |
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| Can my business operate? |
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| Illegal Gatherings / Protests | Contact the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122 |
| Construction workers not following provincial regulations |
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| Complaint about a food premise (restaurant), convenience store, and/or personal service setting (aesthetics, hair styling, tattooing, body piercing) not following sector specific Health and Safety rules/guidelines (e.g., cleaning requirements) | Contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
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| Complaint about person inside business not wearing a mask / face covering |
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This requirement focuses on higher-risk indoor (unless otherwise stated) public settings:
- Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities
- Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs and restaurants, clubs and other similar establishments
- Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces
- Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions
- Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events
- Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
- Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs
- Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
- Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences.
Exemptions include but are not limited to children under age 12, youth under age 18 participating in indoor organized sport, including training, practices, games and competitions, and patrons with a medical exemption will be permitted entry without proof of vaccination.
In addition, between September 22 and October 13, 2021, patrons may provide proof of a negative antigen test to attend an indoor social gathering associated with a wedding service, rite or ceremony or a social gathering associated with a funeral service, rite or ceremony in certain meeting or event spaces.
Other limited exemptions apply in meeting and event spaces (e.g., day camp, child care, social services, court services, government services).
An individual is considered fully vaccinated if they have received:
- The full series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada, or any combination of such vaccines
- One or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada, followed by one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine authorized by Health Canada
- Three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada
- They received their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before providing the proof of being fully vaccinated.
Individuals aged 12 and over, unless otherwise exempted, can provide either a paper or digital copy of their vaccination receipt that demonstrates they are fully vaccinated. It must include their name, date of vaccination and product name (brand of vaccine) at the time of vaccination. A vaccination receipt includes any of the following:
- An Ontario vaccination receipt from a vaccine clinic when you received your dose (paper copy)
- A vaccination receipt signed by an Indigenous Health Provider
- An Ontario Ministry of Health vaccination receipt received by email following your appointment (digital or printed paper copy)
- Downloaded vaccination receipt from Ontario’s provincial booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (digital or printed paper copy)
- A vaccination receipt from another jurisdiction that shows the holder is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
You must also validate that the vaccine receipt is yours by providing identification issued by an institution or public body that includes your name and date of birth.
A patron seeking access to a business or organization specified in the regulation must provide the receipt that shows that they are fully vaccinated.
Between September 22 and October 22, 2021, in addition to proof of identity, a patron must show a paper or digital version of the PDF receipt.
After October 22, 2021, in addition to proof of identity, a patron may present a paper or digital version of the PDF receipt or a paper or digital version of the enhanced vaccine certificate with QR code to gain access to designated settings.
Altering the appearance of the receipt you receive as proof of vaccination in any way is not permitted and could render the receipt invalid.
All versions of the receipt are acceptable as proof of vaccination when paired with proof of identification.
Currently, vaccine receipts are available in PDF form to be downloaded to your computer, phone or tablet, or printed. Individuals who have a green photo health card can provide proof of immunization by downloading or printing their vaccine receipt from the provincial booking portal, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
Ontario will develop and implement an enhanced vaccine certificate with unique QR code and accompanying verification application that will allow users to securely and safely verify their vaccination status when scanned. The enhanced vaccine certificate, as well as a verification app to allow businesses or organizations to read the QR code, will be available by October 22, 2021. Ontario’s Proof of Vaccination Guidance will be updated to reflect the new processes. Paper vaccination receipts will remain valid after October 22.
All Ontarians who registered their vaccines are encouraged to download their vaccine receipt as proof of their vaccine status in order to attend restaurants, nightclubs, sporting events, and other settings where people need to be fully vaccinated until an enhanced vaccine certificate with a QR code is available.
Individuals must provide proof of identification so that the business or organization can ensure the vaccination receipt belongs to the person. The person’s identification must be issued by an institution or public body and show the name of the identification holder and their date of birth. A photo identification is not required.
Identification documents that may be used as proof of identification include:
- Birth certificate
- Citizenship card
- Driver’s licence
- Government (Ontario or other) issued identification card, including health card[1]
- Indian Status Card /Indigenous Membership Card
- Passport
- Permanent Resident card.
Validation of identification is considered to have been completed/successful when the name and date of birth of the presenter of the vaccination receipt and the name and date of birth on the identification document match. If the name and date of birth on both documents do not match, the individual will not be allowed to enter the business or organization.
No, a previous infection is not a substitute for being fully vaccinated.