Doug Ford government says vaccine booking portal 'remains secure' despite data breach

Ontario's Progressive Conservative government says residents should still have confidence in the province's vaccine booking portal, despite a suspected data breach that triggered a police investigation and led to charges against a government employee.

Government House Leader Paul Calandra says the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cyber crimes unt was "immediately engaged" after learning of the breach leading to a "swift investigation."

"The OPP charged an individual who is no longer working with the Government of Ontario," Calandra said during Question Period at Queen's Park. "The system remains secure for the people of the province of Ontario."

The OPP say they were first asked to investigate the breach on Nov. 17 after the government received reports of individuals receiving spam text messages from people who scheduled appointments or accessed their vaccine certificates through the province vaccine portal.

Ontario's Solicitor General confirmed the text messages were "financial in nature" but said no one had been defrauded of any money.