Is it the right time to lift Quebec's vaccine passport system?

While some business owners and customers may be breathing a sigh of relief after the Quebec government announced its plans to abandon the vaccine passport system, reactions are mixed among experts and politicians.

Jörg Hermann Fritz, an associate professor of immunology at McGill University, said the government appears to be pandering to protesters who have been demonstrating against public health restrictions in places like Montreal and Quebec City in a show of solidarity with the larger-scale protest in Ottawa.

"I would like to see decision making based on scientific evidence that is thought through, that is well argued and justified to the public and this is not happening," said Fritz.

"As such, I'm very worried about where we're going from here."

Fritz said the virus is still circulating and he questions what will happen if another wave hits.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Health Minister Christian Dubé said the COVID-19 situation in the province has improved enough to gradually scale back the vaccine passport system which requires people to show proof of vaccination to enter places like cinemas and large stores.

As of Wednesday, Quebecers will no longer need to show a vaccine passport to enter liquor stores, cannabis shops or big retail outlets.

As of Feb. 21, the passport will no longer be required in places of worship or at funerals. By March 14, the passport will be phased out entirely, including for restaurants, gyms, cinemas and long-term care homes.

Dubé said the change will coincide with the arrival of the first COVID-specific antiviral treatments in the province.

Proof of vaccination will still be required for domestic rail and air travel, as mandated by the federal government. Masks will also still be required in all public indoor spaces in the province.

But even before the health minister made his announcement, opposition politicians at the National Assembly were demanding more information.

Québec Solidaire's Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Liberal leader Dominique Anglade, and the head of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, all want to see the scientific evidence showing both that the passport is effective, and that it is safe to end the system already.

The group of opposition leaders called for answers on Tuesday.

"Curfew, no curfew, unvaccinated tax, no unvaccinated taxes, vaccine passport which was to be deployed, maintained, is now lifted. The contradictory messages of François Legault have been numerous and it must stop," said Anglade.