As of September 1, 2021, Québec's vaccine passport rules are in effect. However, during the grace period from September 1 to September 15, no penalties will be imposed on businesses for not requiring the passport to use their services or enter their premises.
The vaccination passport indicates that a person is "adequately protected" against COVID-19. The passport will allow those aged 13 and up to gain admittance to certain locations and non-essential activities where the risk of transmission is high. Photo ID will also be required. The full list of places and activities which will require the vaccine passport is available here (currently in French only).
The passport is not required for access to essential services such as education (primary, secondary, post-secondary).
For more information on the vaccine passport and how to obtain it, see here.
Summary
All regions of Québec are now Green zones and businesses are open. As noted in a previous post, the physical distancing rule for those with "adequate protection" (requisite doses of vaccine or had COVID plus 1 dose) is now 1 meter in most instances and there is no longer any restriction on the capacity of retail stores. Business owners remain responsible for ensuring that customers are able to maintain a one meter distance from others.
As discussed in more detail in our separate employment-focused post, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail has modified the measures put in place for workplaces throughout Québec (for a summary, see here). Working remotely ("teleworking") is no longer mandatory, although it is still being recommended where possible.
Québec's staged re-opening plan, unveiled in May 2021, aimed to see things almost "back to normal" by the end of the summer and fully eliminate the restrictions by the end of August 2021 (or later). However, with rising cases associated with the Delta variant, the restrictions in place will continue for now.
Interprovincial travel by land between Québec and Ontario is no longer restricted. Travel between regions within Québec is also permitted with special rules for access to Nunavik, Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James and Îles-de-la-Madeleine as set out here.
Detailed Information
This post highlights the remaining restrictions on business and will be updated as Québec's pandemic response evolves. For complete details of restrictions on other activities such as education and sports activities (and others), see here.
Since October 2020, the Government of Québec has continuously renewed the public health emergency declared in the province and tightened and loosened restrictions on businesses as Covid-19 cases increased and diminished. Like most other provinces, Québec has implemented its restrictions on a regional basis, with a four-level colour-coded scheme that ranges from Red (most restrictive) to Green (least restrictive).
Many of the restrictions on businesses have been lifted, with all of Québec becoming Green as of June 28, 2021.
Québec regions are now classified as follows:
- Green zones:
- Montréal,
- Capitale-Nationale Region;
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue;
- Bas-Saint-Laurent;
- Centre-du-Québec;
- Chaudière-Appalaches;
- Côte-Nord;
- Estrie;
- Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine;
- Lanaudière;
- Laurentides,
- Laval;
- Mauricie;
- Montérégie;
- Nord-du-Québec; and
- Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
- Green zones (special measures also in force):
- Nunavik; and
- Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James.
In all regions, restaurants, cinemas, museums, libraries, performing arts venues, spas and gyms, among others, have been permitted to reopen with certain restrictions.
Québec's public health state of emergency continues to be extended (currently to September 10, 2021) by the Québec Minister of Health and Social Services, who is empowered under this order to take measures necessary to protect public health.
Level 1 (Green zones)
Restrictions on Businesses
Open with vaccine passport required: see summary of full restrictions here
- bars, breweries, taverns and casinos:
- 50% capacity for those with a liquor licence;
- inside: maximum of 10 people from different addresses or the occupants of 3 households per table;
- outside terraces: maximum of 20 people per table;
- hotels and other tourist accommodation:
-
- maximum of 10 people from different addresses or the occupants from 3 households;
- restaurants:
- inside: maximum of 10 people from different addresses or the occupants of 3 households per table
- outside terraces: maximum of 20 people per table;
- museums, zoos, aquariums, etc.;
- cinemas;
- festivals and other events presenting outdoor performances;
- arcades, the indoor activities of thematic sites, amusement centres and parks, water parks and youth hostels: strict conditions to be observed; and
- indoor place used for an event-based or social activity and games such as bowling, darts, billiards and the like.
General restrictions
- No fixed limits on the number of customers : The restrictions on the number of customers based upon the floor area of the premises accessible to them have been removed. Store operators are tasked with managing customer traffic within the store to ensure physical distancing of 1 metre at all times between customers from different households. Masks remain obligatory for persons 10 years and older.
- Teleworking: Working remotely ("teleworking") is no longer mandatory but still recommended where possible.
- Working on-site: For businesses whose employees are returning to the workplace, certain measures to protect the health and safety of workers continue in force and can be found here.
Nunavik and Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James
For information about the measures in force in Nunavik and Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James, consult the websites of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services and the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.
Fines
Those failing to respect the COVID-19 public health measures such as vaccine passports, social distancing, face coverings and gatherings (among others) may be fined between $1,000 and $6,000.
Going Forward
The Government of Québec has been generally satisfied with the province's progress in fighting the pandemic. However, Québec Health Minister Christian Dube said indicated that the month of September will be closely monitored as cases can be expected to rise with the Delta variant and the return to school and work. We will keep you posted.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
