A test scan of a vaccine passport is shown at a gym in Quebec, Canada (Image: AP/Christinne Muschi)

Like it or not, vaccine passports are on the way for most Australians. So what will life look like when Australians have to flash one to enter bars, cafes, events, cinemas, hairdressers and more? We can look to a frosty cousin, Canada, for some idea.

Like Australia, the rollout differs among the 13 provinces (think of them as states) and territories. The difference in the vaccine passport mandates is kind of a problem, particularly considering that domestic travel in Canada, unlike Australia, is not restricted. Some provinces have QR codes, others have cards for the wallet, and some are dodging the term “vaccine passport” for political clout, even though that’s ostensibly what they have. Four have no plans to introduce a passport — yet.

Quebec was the first to draw the line in Canada, mandating vaccine passports on September 1. Basically you can’t go to restaurants, bars, gyms, festivals, sports venues and large-scale events without one. What’s more, you get fined thousands of dollars if you’re found to be without one in those places.

The vaccine passport is stored in an app, or you can show a print-off. Like SA Senator Rex Patrick proved in early August, however, these things aren’t foolproof. Within hours of the launch, hackers got QR codes belonging to several politicians, including Quebec’s Premier Francois Legault. Yikes.

Alberta, a fairly conservative province, has vehemently rejected the vaccine passport. But it introduced a “vaccine card” in mid-September (if it walks like a duck…) because its health system was on the verge of collapse from surging cases (Alberta clocked 1758 new infections on Tuesday, among 4.3 million residents). Alternatively, Albertans can show a negative COVID test from the last 72 hours to enter places. But uptake is spotty — indeed in early September, its chambers of commerce found two-thirds of businesses don’t even support a mandate for vaccine passports.

The vaccine passport is still a whole month away in Ontario, which is home to 14 million (basically the population of Queensland and NSW combined). Vaccine certificates are required to enter restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, gyms, sports facilities (though not shops). But the vaccine passport — a QR code bedded in a government app — won’t be launched until October 22. Why the delay? Well, Premier Doug Ford didn’t want them — in an echo of ACT leader Andrew Barr’s comments, he says it’ll create a “split society”.

As most provinces roll out their patchwork of mandates, doctors are reporting an uptick in medical exemption requests, according to the Ontario Medical Association (the country’s most populous province). It’s not as easy as sweet-talking your GP, however. The only people who can get exemptions are those who have a proven allergy to the ingredients, or who were severely ill after the first jab. People with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, are also exempt. But there’s been only 678 cases of myocarditis in the entire population of 38 million, according to Canada’s Health Department. 

The Canadian government is being a little pushier than our federal government, too. Newly reelected PM Justin Trudeau regularly criticises vaccine opponents, including the rival Conservatives who reckon rapid testing would be better than vaccine passports. Mid-August, Trudeau confirmed that only the vaccinated could board an interprovince train or plane — including all staff operating the services. 

It seems the message in Canada is fast becoming get vaccinated or get locked out — for now.

Would you trust — and sign up for — a vaccine passport? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name if you would like to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say column. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.