Two local advocates are calling attention to two national statements on vaccination passports and are echoing some of the concerns addressed.
Citizen’s Representative Bradley Moss and Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey are asking for fairness, openness, transparency, and respect for existing laws in the release of any policy on vaccination passports.
Micheal Harvey says vaccine passports have the potential to offer substantial public benefit, but people are being asked to reveal health information in exchange for access to premises, province, or country. That, Harvey says, is a lot to ask.
He says vaccine passports should only be implemented if their benefits are balanced against privacy rights.
Bradley Moss meanwhile says while his office recognizes the need for a vaccine passport, it runs the risk of generating confusion and complaints, and he urges a “slow down” and “be careful” approach for provincial public bodies to ensure that processes are accessible, fair, transparent and subject to oversight.
If vaccine passports are required to access public services, it is important that administrative fairness is respected says Moss. Vaccine passports should not create oppressive or unreasonable barriers to obtaining public services based on a person’s vaccine status.
Joint Statement by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Privacy Commissioners
Fairness Principles for Public Service Providers Regarding the Use of COVID-19 Vaccine Certification
