I'm planning on visiting Quebec for about 10 days at the end of September. I'm expecting it to be a lot like travelling in the USA -- at least if you're travelling in a hyper USA "Blue state." Like I've read they are implementing a vaccine passport system for restaurrants -- kind of like New York City has, but very rare elsewhere in America. As a tourist, I can live with that. But are sights and attractions open? Are cultural activities underway? Are people terrified, or generally going around their normal lives?

Thanks for the insight.

I can only speak for Montreal but I have had as normal a summer as possible going out to restaurants and bars so yes, there is activities albeit capacity controlled. Even went to see a football game last weekend, first time in a long time! 80%+ of people over 12 are fully vaccinated in Quebec, schools were opened all throughout last year contrary to most of North America so everyone is trying to live as normal a life as possible and are complying with public health rules. That means the plans is for things to be as open as possible in the future with capacity controls. Masks are required indoors unless seated in a restaurant/bar. Proof of vaccination is required as well for some activities such as restaurants and bars.

Things can change in a hurry and case numbers are going up (universities are back to on-campus learning which is a big vector) but ICU numbers are steady composed 80%+ of unvaxxed people.

I haven't lived in Montreal for many years, so [MENTION=10086]Admiral Ackbar[/MENTION] certainly has more experience there recently, but I did visit a couple of weeks ago and found central Montreal to be pretty normal.

Since you would also be visiting from out of province, I will make a recommendation on proof of vaccine: have something physical to show. Quebec's vaccine passport app is only available to Quebec residents. As a non-resident, you just have to show them satisfactory proof of your vaccination status (could be in an app, a CDC card, or some sort of electronic medical record, whether on your phone or printed - just not a QR code) but I suspect having a piece of paper is a lot easier.

I was there with a friend who got his shots in the US, and I had a much easier time getting into places by just showing a printout from my Alberta provincial health records than he did trying to show people whatever he has from the US on his phone. I was able to print it such that the text of what vaccines I got and when was large and easy to read, whereas he had to fiddle with his phone each time.

Thanks. This vaccine passport thing is quite rare in the USA. I will carry around a photocopy of our Covid vaccination cards in my pocket. I find it hard to believe a restauranteur will actually ask me for it, though. I guess it depends on how fearful they are and how high the fines are. Are people routinely whipping out thei vaccine app when they arrive at a restaurant?

Restaurants will absolutely ask for it if you're dining in, I just saw the cashier scan someone's barcode today at a fast food hot dog restaurant. (She didn't check it against an ID card so I'm not sure how useful it was but ....) They don't check on takeout orders, only dine-in

There's no requirements for masks outdoors and few people wear them outdoors but masks are required indoors in public places like stores and transit and compliance is near 100% at least in mainstream places. Today was the first time I've ever seen people breaking that when I took the metro after midnight but even so it was one person with no mask and two girls with masks below their mouth. And a homeless dude. The train was fairly crowded for 1am and everyone else was wearing masks.

Other than that life is pretty relaxed right now... but the R rate is 1.17 and if nothing else we've all had two years training on how exponential growth works so yeah, things could change quickly. In theory the government policy is that there won't be any new lockdowns -- any new restrictions will be implemented with the vaccination passport rather than outright closures.

All that said.... Most offices remain closed so downtown is .... pretty quiet... And most organized group activities are either suspended or limited in some ways. My board game group isn't meeting. The hockey arena near me doesn't allow spectators, only people actively involved in the activities and only immediately before their event, and so on.

I am in BC at the moment and I have been asked for my vaccine bar code and photo id three times this week. On Friday we went for happy hour and I forgot my id. I had a photo of my passport and drivers license on my phone but it was touch and go if they were going to accept it. I had a credit card with me and that tipped the balance. So at least in BC, they are serious and asking for it. At least for now. There were a couple of places on the news tonight that have said they won’t ask for vax proof. It won’t end well for them I bet.

FWIW, the rest of my time is spent in the US, in HNL, and I have to show my vaccine proof in restaurants there as well.

Folks, please note a few edits and/or post deletions have been made as the thread isn't the place in which to debate vaccination levels or the rate of breakthrough cases. Input on OP's question are welcomed but let's please take the wider virus debates to the dedicated Coronavirus FT forum.

Regards,

tcook052
Canada forum moderator

Believe it. How closely they scrutinize it may vary, but I just spent 3 days in Montreal, and every restaurant and bar asked to see it.

Is it safe to believe that a photocopy of the CDC card is acceptable rather than the actual card?

Bring it if you want to dine indoors in Montreal from cash-only dives to fancy linen restaurants. You also need to bring your ID proving you are not a resident of Quebec if not using Quebec's vaccine passport.

Some stores are even having you use hand sanitizer as you enter.

You mentioned on another thread you are planning to cross the land border. You may be selected by CBSA to take a COVID test. If so, it would be either be at the port of entry if the port is equipped or you will be provided a test kit. If the later, you will have to schedule a remote session within 24 hours of arrival so that a nurse can observe you doing the swab. Nurse will arrange for Purolator to pickup the sample at the Canadian address you provide.

Take the actual CDC card, not a photocopy. They will ask to see it, it is normal and expected. Masking indoors is the law, and we all do it. I have seen the odd rule breaker on the metro too, but I have also see them hauled off by the STM staffers.

Otherwise life feels pretty normal, you can eat out, watch a movie, do the usual stuff.

There's no detailed standard as to what's required for non-residents of Quebec. The QC government just says "Official proof of vaccination against COVID-19 issued by their country or province in Canada", so ultimately it will come down to the person at the door reviewing your documentation.

I suspect a photocopy of a CDC card should be satisfactory to most, if not all, establishments. A friend of mine who was vaccinated in the US showed something on his phone and it was fine, and I've had no problems with a printout of my Alberta provincial health records. A friend from Ontario showed something on his phone.

Respectfully, I would tend to disagree. I don’t think a photocopy is “official” proof. It may well be fine but it also may not be depending on who is doing the checking. It isn’t something I would want to count on when just carrying the actual card is a sure thing and just as easy.

The Quebec government has chosen not to define what constitutes "official" proof. There is no requirement to show an original document, nor is there a statement of what sources are acceptable to constitute "official" proof.

Which is what I already said.

Some people prefer not to carry originals of important documents. You're free to do carry yours if you choose, but I'm providing real-world experience of having visited quite a few places in Montreal the past couple of weeks, using my out-of-province credentials and travelling with other people doing the same, and I would have little to no concern about a photocopy of a CDC card being acceptable.

FWIW, I presented a paper print out of my state's immunization record which includes vaccine and dates administered instead of CDC card and that was fine at 3 out of 3 restaurants.

Used the print out instead of CDC card as I can fold it into my wallet, and also print out another copy if lost. CBSA was also ok with the print out instead of CDC card at the border.