City mandates vaccination passport in municipal buildings and for activities

With the Quebec government recently introducing vaccination passports as a prerequisite for people aged 13 and up to engage in certain activities deemed non-essential like going to restaurants, bars, and gyms, Gatineau announced it intends to apply the same regulations in municipal establishments and service areas. Adjusting to the current epidemiological situation to keep people safe, a press release issued by the city on August 30 stated that vaccine passports will be necessary to enter sports facilities such as arenas, indoor pools, and training centres, and to participate in certain activities in Gatineau’s culture and leisure fall programming. Also included are all municipally organized indoor free activities, outdoor group activities, and some cultural events like live shows at the city’s various performance halls – Salle Jean-Despréz, l’Espace René-Provost, and Théâtre de l’Île in Hull, and the Cabaret La Basoche in Aylmer.

Calling on people to ensure eligibility for activities before registering, the city says programming that necessitates proof of vaccination will be labeled as such on its website via the Citizen portal, where people can consult and pay municipal bills and fines, apply for permits, consult property evaluations, waste collection cycles, renew Gatineau Accès cards, use the library’s digital services, register for municipally-run activities, and apply for jobs with the city.

There will be no refunds for those who register for activities and fail to present vaccination passports. However, the city will refund ticket holders who purchased their passes before August 30 who don’t have proof of vaccination. No refunds are available if tickets were purchased after August 30.

Municipal parks, outdoor centres and equipment rentals, libraries (with services on hand to help people download the VaxiCode app or print their proof of vaccination), eco-centres, municipal court, municipal art galleries, as well as cultural and community centres for local organizations remain universally accessible with regular Covid-19 public safety green zone regulations. City workers responsible for activities will be tasked to verify participants’ proof of double-vaccination upon arrival. Municipal workers who can work from home will continue to do so for the time being. People with questions, comments, or concerns about the city’s activities and services are invited to call Gatineau’s 3-1-1 service.

Recognizing the population’s efforts to combat the pandemic, while making the most of a challenging period of time, President of Gatineau’s Executive Committee and Hull-Wright district councillor Cédric Tessier said the city is committed to following the provincial government’s lead with the implementation of vaccination passports. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, municipal services have done everything possible to ensure a safe environment and we continue to do so in order to offer accessible services to citizens,” Tessier said in the press release. “I strongly urge the population to follow the guidelines issued by the Quebec government. The collaboration of everyone is essential in the effort to get through this pandemic.”