STEPHEN RICCIO
MRC PONTIAC April 7, 2021
MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller is discouraging seasonal residents from scheduling vaccination appointments at the Campbell’s Bay RA Centre, asking that they instead receive vaccines where their permanent residence is if possible.
In an interview with THE EQUITY, Toller explained that . . .
a seasonal resident had contacted her over the weekend after they had been refused a dose upon arrival for their appointment. After the resident told her that they spent weekends in the Pontiac but that their permanent residence was in Ontario, Toller told them that they should get their vaccine in Ontario.
She said she had also heard from permanent residents who were concerned about Ontario residents receiving vaccines in the Pontiac.
“The CISSSO have calculated the number of dosages based on our permanent population, and my concern is that we must make the priority our permanent population,” she said.
“It is my responsibility to make sure that we do not run out of dosages,” she added.
Toller noted the poor health outcomes within the Pontiac as an additional reason for concern around vaccine numbers, as the MRC ranks near the bottom in that regard in Quebec.
MNA André Fortin said that the government is technically allowing for seasonal residents to receive the vaccine in Quebec, but he also said that he had heard of people who didn’t meet the seasonal residency requirements who were using fake addresses or other means to obtain vaccine appointments in the Pontiac.
Toller said that while it might be permitted for part-time residents to get the vaccine in Quebec, she was going to advocate for stricter measures.
“I’m going to encourage the CISSSO to take a tougher stance and to say that the vaccination is to be administered to people who can prove that they have permanent residency from here on in,” she said.
As of April 1, Toller said that the CISSSO had updated its requirements to needing documentation proving seasonal residency as opposed to simply requiring a postal code, which had been the protocol prior to Thursday.
She said that she understood why she was hearing about residents who had cancelled appointments in Ottawa to instead be vaccinated in the Pontiac out of convenience, but she asked that those people be understanding of the need to prioritize permanent residents.
“I would just ask for understanding on the part of our seasonal residents to understand that we can’t risk running out … and encourage them to please get their vaccinations where their permanent home is,” Toller said. “And of course we do hope that their permanent home will become the Pontiac.”
