First phase of vaccine certification going live in July for travellers entering Canada

As the travel industry pushes the government to ease travel restrictions, the federal government plans to roll out next month the first phase of its vaccine certification program for travellers entering the country, CBC News has confirmed.

Starting in early July, a new feature on the ArriveCanapp will go live, according to a federal government source with direct knowledge.

The app will allow travellers to take a photo or upload a snapshot of their vaccine documentation into the appbefore going through customs, the source said. CBC is not identifying the source, whowas not authorized to speak publicly on the matter

The information stays in the app and isn't transferred elsewhere an effort to address privacy concerns.

The update to the apppaves the way for the government to start easing restrictions on international travel in stages.Earlier this month, the federal government said fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents crossing the border into Canada will soon no longer be required to stay at a hotel for part of their quarantine period.

The prime minister metwith premiers from across the country Thursday evening.Most of the discussion focused on the next steps to re-open the border, according to a senior government source. The talk was constructive and allthe premiers agreed that being fully vaccinated was the key, the source said.

In the spring, Health Minister Patty Hajdutold reporters that the topic of vaccine certification had come up in a meeting between G7 health ministers. Since then, discussions with allies have continued on the idea of a passport orcertification thatwould allow citizens of one country to prove to border officials inanother country that they are fully vaccinatedor have tested negative for the virus.

Buy-in from provinces needed

Several government departments are also working on the second phase ofproof-of-vaccination documentation, the source said. That digital project will employ the same technology used forCanada's e-passports, the source said.

The Toronto Star reported Thursday that this phase which would allow Canadians to digitally verify their vaccination statuswith the federal government won't be ready until the fall and will only accept proof of vaccination with one ofCanada's four accredited vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZenecaand Johnson and Johnson.

According to the source, the second phase of the vaccination certificate projectdependson buy-in from the provinces and territories. The federal government would need permission to connect with each jurisdiction's database totrackwho has receivedfirst and second doses.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canadaand Public Safety Canada are all working on the project.