City of Edmonton opts in to Alberta's vaccine passport-style program
Users of Edmonton's city services and facilities will be asked to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test result starting Monday.
The city will be opting in to Alberta's Restriction Exemption Program, city manager Andre Corbould confirmed Friday morning.
“We realize there are details that still need to be worked out, but we’re confident that this program will be another layer in our approach to helping keep Edmontonians safe from COVID-19," he said in a statement.
The framework applies to all city services and programs and users aged 12 and up who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.
Between Sept. 20 – when the program starts across the province – and Oct. 25, the city will accept proof of a single dose as long as it was received more than two weeks earlier.
Proof of full immunization will be required after Oct. 25.
Alternatively, users can provide a PCR or rapid test result no older than 72 hours. The test must have been privately paid for and cannot be from Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories.
“When we looked at all of our options, this allowed us to continue to provide the highest quality of service to the largest number of Edmontonians,” Corbould said.
Edmontonians were told to arrive early to facilities while the program unrolls.
St. Albert's council and Beamont made the same decisions.
Strathcona County's mayor said council would decide on Friday whether or not to match the move.
Masks will continue to be required on Edmonton transit, at bus and LRT stations, and inside all indoor public places and vehicles as per city bylaw.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.