52nd Edition • September 14, 2021
Proof of Vaccination – Guidance & Regulations
for Ontario Businesses
Dear golf industry stakeholders,

The Ontario government has now released regulations and guidance (version 1) for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021.

Click here to review the complete guidance document.

Click here to review the new regulations (O. Reg. 645/21: RULES FOR AREAS AT STEP 3 AND AT THE ROADMAP EXIT STEP).

Requiring proof of vaccination will help increase vaccination rates, protect individuals in higher-risk indoor settings, and keep businesses open. As noted in Bulletin # 51, as of September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. 
Entrance Guidance
Entry
In order to enter the business, with limited exceptions:
• Patrons must provide the required proof of identification and proof of full vaccination (double dose plus 14 days), and
• Businesses and organizations must review and confirm the proof.

Should an individual choose not to share the required information, they will not be permitted to enter businesses or organizations that require proof.
Exemption Guidance
Workers
Does not apply to workers, contractors, repair workers, delivery workers, students, volunteers, inspectors or others who are entering the business or organization for work purposes and not as patrons.
Patrons
A patron who is entering an indoor area solely for the following purposes:
  • to use a washroom;
  • to access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route;
  • to make a retail purchase;
  • while placing, picking up, or paying for an order;
  • to purchase admission; or
  • as may be necessary for the purposes of health and safety.
NOTE: All other public health measures (e.g., masking and physical distancing) continue to apply to patrons.
Children & Youth
Children under 12 years of age are exempt.

Patrons under 18 years of age entering a sports and recreational facility for the purpose of actively participating in an organized sport (applies to training, practices, games and competitions) are exempt.
Weddings & Funerals
Patrons entering the indoor premises of a meeting or event space, solely for the purposes of attending a wedding/funeral service, rite or ceremony, but not the social gathering.
 
From September 22 up to, but not including, October 13; patrons entering the indoor premises of a meeting or event space for the purposes of attending a social gathering associated with a wedding/funeral service and who produces a negative antigen test from within the previous 48 hours to the person responsible for the establishment is exempt.
Medical
Patrons with a medical exemption are required to present identification and a written document stating the individual is exempt for a medical reason to the business or organization.

Note: medical exemptions must be signed by a physician (designated as “MD”) or by a registered nurse in the extended class (designated as “Registered Nurse (Extended Class)”, “RN(EC)”, “Nurse Practitioner” or “NP”)
Process
Vaccine Certification
September 22 - October 22
Proof of vaccination will be accepted if the person’s name and date of birth on their ID matches the vaccination receipt with name and date of birth and if the person is fully vaccinated.

Ontarians
All Ontarians are provided a receipt at the time of vaccination (either paper or emailed version) and must provide their receipt showing full vaccination when entering a business or organization specified in the regulation.
 
Visitors
Patrons who are visitors to Ontario will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated and proof of identification to enter the businesses.
Process / Steps Required for Your Staff
Step 1: Match the Name and Date of Birth on the vaccination receipt (see image above) against the name and date of birth on a piece of ID.
 
Step 2: Verify the receipt is either:
  • an Ontario receipt issued at the time of vaccination or any format of receipt downloaded from Ontario.ca that shows the holder is fully vaccinated against COVID-19
  • a receipt signed by an Indigenous Health Provider, or
  • a receipt from another jurisdiction that shows the holder is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
 
Step 3: Verify that the receipt shows that the holder is fully vaccinated.
 
Step 4: Verify that the date of administration of the final shot in the series is at least fourteen days prior to the date the patron is seeking access to the business or organization.
Proof of Identity
Validation of identification must also be undertaken to ensure that the vaccination receipt offered by the patron belongs to them. 
 
Validation of vaccination will be based on two key identifiers:
  1. Name of the identification holder; and
  2. Date of birth.
 
A photo identification is not required.

Proof of identity can be established using documentation issued by an institution or public body, provided it includes the name of the holder and date of birth. Examples of identification documents that may be used to confirm the identity of the holder of the vaccine receipt include:
  • Birth certificate
  • Citizenship card
  • Driver’s license
  • Government (Ontario or other) issued identification card, including health card
  • 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.
 
NOTE: For Ontario residents, expired Ontario government issued identification, including drivers’ licenses, and expired Canadian government issued documents, such as passports, may be provided as proof of identification
Compliance | Penalties
Compliance
Businesses or organizations are responsible for ensuring they meet the requirements regarding proof of identification and proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as outlined in the regulation.

Patrons are required to ensure that any information they provide to the business or organization to demonstrate proof of vaccination (or proof of qualifying for an exemption) and proof of identification is complete and accurate.

In the event of harassment or threats of acts of violence, the police/law enforcement should be contacted immediately.
 
Employers have a responsibility to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect a worker. This includes assessing risk and implementing multiple control measures to address the risk of COVID19 transmission, as well as the risk of workplace violence where that hazard may exist.
Penalties
Failing to comply with the requirements of O. Reg. 364/20 can result in charges.
 
If charged under Part I of the Provincial Offenses Act (POA), set fine amounts are $750 for individuals and $1,000 for corporations.
 
Maximum penalties based on a prosecution under Part I or Part II of the POA include fines of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail for an individual; up to $500,000 and up to a year in jail for an individual who is a director or officer of a corporation; and up to $10 million for a corporation.
 
Violence in the workplace is never acceptable. Obstructing any person exercising a power or performing a duty (including workers) in accordance with requirements in O. Reg. 364/20 can also result in charges.
Next Steps
Ontario will develop and implement an enhanced digital vaccine certificate with unique QR (Quick Response) 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 beginning October 22. Following this date, patrons will be able to provide a paper copy or a digital copy of their enhanced vaccine certificate with QR to provide proof of vaccination. Older versions of the receipt will still be acceptable as proof of vaccination.
Click here for the September 14th press release from the ON government – Ontario Releasing Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy.
 
We will continue to send you updates as more information becomes available.
 
Thank you and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Southwestern Ontario
866-626-4262 ext. 44
Central Ontario
866-626-4262 ext. 49
Eastern Ontario/Outaouais
866-626-4262 ext. 45
515 Legget Drive, Suite 810 | Ottawa, ON | K2K 3G4