The province’s COVID-19 vaccine passport system comes into effect Wednesday and those aged 13 and over who want to access non-essential services are required to show proof of vaccination.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced the implementation of the passport system in early August prompting some protests in Montreal and at various venues where pilot projects to test the system were being carried out.
Some have argued the passport is discriminatory and should have been subject to public debate.
The government, for its part, has said the passport, in combination with vaccination, will not only protect the population it will also help businesses stay open by avoiding the need for lockdowns.
Here’s everything you need to know on how to navigate the new system.
2:13 Are provinces hurting their economy by not introducing a vaccine passport?
Are provinces hurting their economy by not introducing a vaccine passport?
What is the vaccine passport?
The vaccine passport is a system that allows to determine your level of protection against COVID-19.
For your passport, you will need a proof of vaccination document which includes your name, date of birth, information about the vaccines received, date of first positive COVID-19 test if applicable, and a QR or quick response code provided by the Quebec government. The information on the document is also contained in the QR code.
Proof of vaccination is available in both digital and paper formats. It is recommended to have the paper version as well, to serve as backup.
How does it work?
When trying to access non-essential services, anyone aged 13 and over will be required to show their proof of vaccination, either by presenting a paper version of their QR code, a PDF version on their mobile device or by using the VaxiCode application.
Businesses or venues will then scan your QR code using the VaxiCode Verif application. Your name will appear on the scanning device, as well as your vaccination status indicated by the colour green for adequately protected and red for not adequately protected.
An internet connection is not required as none of the information is stored, it is only read by the application.
You will also have to provide one piece of valid photo ID to ensure the name on the QR code matches yours.
The VaxiCode and VaxiCode Verif apps are available for download on the the Apple App Store for Iphone users and on Google Play for Android devices. After downloading the app, users can upload their QR code by following the instructions.
1:58 Helping Quebec seniors with COVID-19 vaccine passport
Helping Quebec seniors with COVID-19 vaccine passport
Restaurants and bars including outdoor patios, microbreweries, distilleries, nightclubs and food court dining areas in malls;
Entertainment venues including stadiums, arenas, auditoriums, cinemas, theatres or any other venue where performing arts, sports or films are shown;
Outdoor events and festivals with more than 50 participants, including agricultural fairs, arts and crafts shows, concerts, sports competitions, tournaments and tours;
Casinos, bingo halls and gambling halls;
Amusement and theme parks including zoos, water parks, recreation centres, arcades, pool halls and bowling alleys;
Cruises;
Conventions;
All indoor sports and physical activities, outdoor team sports or sports where there is frequent or prolonged contact
A detailed list of activities and places where a vaccine passport will be needed is available in English on the Quebec government’s website.
What non-essential services or places can I access without a vaccine passport:
Retail stores;
Takeout food counters or restaurant drive-thrus;
Libraries and museums;
Private gatherings;
Businesses offering personal care services, spas and saunas, massage therapy
Ceremonies (weddings and funeral) and places of worship;
If you were vaccinated in Quebec and haven’t received a QR code, you can go the the Quebec government’s website and download a digital version by using the self-service portal. You will be asked to provide your name, health insurance number, date of first vaccination against COVID-19 and the brand of vaccine.
If you don’t have access to a computer and want your proof of vaccination mailed to you, you can call 1-877-644-4545.
Can I still get a QR code if I was vaccinated outside Quebec?
If you live in Quebec but were vaccinated elsewhere, as is the case for many students and some snowbirds, you will have to get your doses added to the province’s vaccine registry to obtain your QR code.
To do so, you must make an appointment at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic through the Clic Santé website.
You’ll need to bring ID as well as a “legible proof of vaccination from the country where you were vaccinated,” according to the Quebec government website. Only vaccine brands authorized by the World Health Organization are being recognized by the province.
Documents provided will be assessed at the vaccination centre and if approved, added to the vaccination registry allowing you to apply for a QR code via the self-service portal.
What rules apply for people visiting from out of province?
Travellers to Quebec will not require a vaccine passport but will have to show proof of vaccination issued by their country or Canadian province, as well as photo ID.
They will be required to have had two doses of either Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Covishield, or one dose of Janssen.
How will it be enforced?
The government says there will be a two-week leniency period lasting until Sept. 15. In that time, no penalties will be enforced.
Anyone who tampers with a QR code, or the vaccine passport system, could face penalties and sanctions, including under the Criminal Code.
If someone isn’t adequately vaccinated at a site where proof is required, they will be asked to leave. If that person refuses, the business owner or service provider can call security or police and have them escorted out.
As for other infractions relating to COVID-19 public health measures, fines can range between $1,000 to $6,000.
Businesses or services providers refusing to use the vaccine passport system risk seeing their venue shut down.
The province says inspectors will be making visits to ensure compliance, but are also calling on customers to report places that aren’t scanning QR codes.
Most job search advice is cookie-cutter. The advice you’re following is almost certainly the same advice other job seekers follow, making you just another candidate following the same script.
In today’s hyper-competitive job market, standing out is critical, a challenge most job seekers struggle with. Instead of relying on generic questions recommended by self-proclaimed career coaches, which often lead to a forgettable interview, ask unique, thought-provoking questions that’ll spark engaging conversations and leave a lasting impression.
Your level of interest in the company and the role.
Contributing to your employer’s success is essential.
You desire a cultural fit.
Here are the top four questions experts recommend candidates ask; hence, they’ve become cliché questions you should avoid asking:
“What are the key responsibilities of this position?”
Most likely, the job description answers this question. Therefore, asking this question indicates you didn’t read the job description. If you require clarification, ask, “How many outbound calls will I be required to make daily?” “What will be my monthly revenue target?”
“What does a typical day look like?”
Although it’s important to understand day-to-day expectations, this question tends to elicit vague responses and rarely leads to a deeper conversation. Don’t focus on what your day will look like; instead, focus on being clear on the results you need to deliver. Nobody I know has ever been fired for not following a “typical day.” However, I know several people who were fired for failing to meet expectations. Before accepting a job offer, ensure you’re capable of meeting the employer’s expectations.
“How would you describe the company culture?”
Asking this question screams, “I read somewhere to ask this question.” There are much better ways to research a company’s culture, such as speaking to current and former employees, reading online reviews and news articles. Furthermore, since your interviewer works for the company, they’re presumably comfortable with the culture. Do you expect your interviewer to give you the brutal truth? “Be careful of Craig; get on his bad side, and he’ll make your life miserable.” “Bob is close to retirement. I give him lots of slack, which the rest of the team needs to pick up.”
Truism: No matter how much due diligence you do, only when you start working for the employer will you experience and, therefore, know their culture firsthand.
“What opportunities are there for professional development?”
When asked this question, I immediately think the candidate cares more about gaining than contributing, a showstopper. Managing your career is your responsibility, not your employer’s.
Cliché questions don’t impress hiring managers, nor will they differentiate you from your competition. To transform your interaction with your interviewer from a Q&A session into a dynamic discussion, ask unique, insightful questions.
Here are my four go-to questions—I have many more—to accomplish this:
“Describe your management style. How will you manage me?”
This question gives your interviewer the opportunity to talk about themselves, which we all love doing. As well, being in sync with my boss is extremely important to me. The management style of who’ll be my boss is a determining factor in whether or not I’ll accept the job.
“What is the one thing I should never do that’ll piss you off and possibly damage our working relationship beyond repair?”
This question also allows me to determine whether I and my to-be boss would be in sync. Sometimes I ask, “What are your pet peeves?”
“When I join the team, what would be the most important contribution you’d want to see from me in the first six months?”
Setting myself up for failure is the last thing I want. As I mentioned, focus on the results you need to produce and timelines. How realistic are the expectations? It’s never about the question; it’s about what you want to know. It’s important to know whether you’ll be able to meet or even exceed your new boss’s expectations.
“If I wanted to sell you on an idea or suggestion, what do you need to know?”
Years ago, a candidate asked me this question. I was impressed he wasn’t looking just to put in time; he was looking for how he could be a contributing employee. Every time I ask this question, it leads to an in-depth discussion.
Other questions I’ve asked:
“What keeps you up at night?”
“If you were to leave this company, who would follow?”
“How do you handle an employee making a mistake?”
“If you were to give a Ted Talk, what topic would you talk about?”
“What are three highly valued skills at [company] that I should master to advance?”
“What are the informal expectations of the role?”
“What is one misconception people have about you [or the company]?”
Your questions reveal a great deal about your motivations, drive to make a meaningful impact on the business, and a chance to morph the questioning into a conversation. Cliché questions don’t lead to meaningful discussions, whereas unique, thought-provoking questions do and, in turn, make you memorable.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.
CALGARY – Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. reported a third-quarter profit of $2.27 billion, down from $2.34 billion in the same quarter last year.
The company says the profit amounted to $1.06 per diluted share for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 compared with $1.06 per diluted share a year earlier.
Product sales totalled $10.40 billion, down from $11.76 billion in the same quarter last year.
Daily production for the quarter averaged 1,363,086 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 1,393,614 a year ago.
On an adjusted basis, Canadian Natural says it earned 97 cents per diluted share for the quarter, down from an adjusted profit of $1.30 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 90 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
CALGARY – Cenovus Energy Inc. reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year as its revenue edged lower.
The company says it earned $820 million or 42 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $1.86 billion or 97 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled $14.25 billion, down from $14.58 billion in the same quarter last year.
Total upstream production in the quarter amounted to 771,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from 797,000 a year earlier.
Total downstream throughput was 642,900 barrels per day compared with 664,300 in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Cenovus says its funds flow amounted to $1.05 per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from adjusted funds flow of $1.81 per diluted share a year earlier.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.
