Give it six months; it appears that's as long as you need for some conspiracy theories to become reality in Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. .A number of "conspiracy theories" surfaced over the last two-and-a-half years, however, government and health officials worked diligently to label many as misinformation, only to have them become policy months later. .First, in the fall of 2020, there was the conspiracy theory the government was planning to lock people up in quarantine or detention camps. .Trudeau and Canadian health officials, at the time, warned Canadians not to believe rumours of COVID-19 "internment camp" disinformation. . Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denies use of COVID-19 "detention centres"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denies use of COVID-19 "detention centres" .Trudeau said "a rise in concerted efforts in misinformation and disinformation" over the last couple of years has worked to "undermine people's confidence in their institutions." He referred to people with "extremist agendas" aiming to "weaken people's confidence in our institutions and our democracy." .Trudeau said while speaking to students, one asked him about "COVID internment camps.".He said he explained to the students that "as we consume increasing amounts and various sources of information on line and around us, we need to continue to be attentive to source ... and resist people who would sow chaos within our communities and our democracy.".Health Canada confirmed it would not establish COVID-19 detention camps in a tweet dated Oct. 21, 2020. ."Federally designated quarantine sites, typically hotel rooms, are not internment camps," said Health Canada in the tweet. . Government of Canada quarantine requirementsThis document explains legal requirements set out in the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order..Several statements in the tweet indicated the choice of where to quarantine was up to travellers, however did confirm travellers "may be transferred to a designated #GoC quarantine facility."."Most travellers will quarantine in their own home or in the same place that they are visiting in Canada," said Health Canada. ."If this is not possible, travellers should consider alternative arrangements that are within their own financial means such as booking a hotel/motel room or other paid housing alternatives, or staying with friends or family."."If travellers to Canada are confirmed to have no other suitable options available, they may be transferred to a designated #GoC quarantine facility. This measure is used as a last resort." . Canadian quarantine hotelsCanadians in quarantine hotels. .Although it appeared Canadians would have a choice as to where they quarantined, based on several videos posted on social media, many were taken to COVID-19 detention hotels against their will. . COVID-19 quarantine hotelsCanadians in quarantine hotels .The federal government has secured dozens of hotels as quarantine facilities across the country throughout the pandemic. The Westin Calgary Airport hotel, and several others in major cities including Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax, has every guest room booked and paid for by the federal government..An attendant at the Westin in Calgary confirmed the hotel is federally booked until the end of March 2023. .After denying the government would force Canadians into quarantine facilities, Trudeau said in February 21, the government is doing everything it can to keep people safe "in a way that is respecting people's dignity and supporting them properly." . Trudeau speaks to the public about quarantine hotelsTrudeau speaks to the public about quarantine hotels ."I can assure you that everyone is following up carefully to make sure that the conditions in which people have to do their quarantine or their testing are always adequate," he said. . Calgary quarantine hotel .Then there was the conspiracy the Canadian government would bring about COVID-19 vaccine passports..These conspiracies were swirling around early in 2021, shortly after the COVID-19 vaccines were given Emergency Use Authorization and released as experimental for widespread use around the world. .In January, during an interview with Reuters, Trudeau said he opposed the idea of mandating proof of vaccination programs as they would be "fraught with challenges.". Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denies he will make vaccines mandatory in CanadaPrime Minister Justin Trudeau denies he will make vaccines mandatory in Canada interview with Reuters. .Trudeau said that while he encouraged all Canadians to get vaccinated, he was uneasy about the idea of bringing in a national proof of vaccination program because it could be "divisive." ."We always know there are people who won't get vaccinated, and not necessarily through a personal or political choice," said Trudeau.."There are medical reasons, there are a broad range of reasons why someone might not get vaccinated and I'm worried about creating ... undesirable effects in our community." ."I think the indications that the vast majority of Canadians are looking to get vaccinated will get us to a good place without having to take more extreme measures that could have real divisive impacts on community and country." .At the time, Health Minister Patty Hajdu agreed with Trudeau and said she shared his concerns..He did, however, concede that a vaccine passport program for international travel could help curb transmission rates and said Canada and other countries were “actively exploring” the idea..In March 2021, on the Brandon Gonez Show, a weekly online talk show focused on Canadian political, social, and entertainment news, Trudeau said he was reluctant to introduce a system of vaccine passports or a proof of COVID-19 immunization over concerns of inequities.. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the Brandon Gonez ShowPrime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is not a country that mandates vaccination. ."What do you do with someone with an allergy? What do you do with someone who is immunocompromised or someone who for religious or deep convictions decides that, no, they're not going to get a vaccine," said Trudeau. ."We're not a country that makes vaccination mandatory, for example. But we want to encourage everyone to get it." .Less than six months later, Trudeau, while on the campaign trail in August, used the concept of mandatory vaccination as an election issue and pledged to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for all 1.5 million federal workers and those in federally-regulated industries; a clear shift in the federal government’s position on vaccine mandates. Trudeau made the pledge just days before he set in motion a federal election for September 20..“This is an evolution of the government’s posture in protecting the health and safety of Canadians since the beginning of the pandemic,” said head of Privy Council, Dominic LeBlanc..“We have scientific data but also real-world evidence on how remarkably effective are the vaccines that have been approved for use by Health Canada.”.Trudeau said Canadian’s “can’t afford the Conservative party’s approach that denies science and peddles disinformation on public health measures.”.The vaccines themselves were originally touted to be effective in preventing infection for people. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in April 2021 said the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines prevent infections and symptoms by 90%. The study of 3,950 essential workers started on the same day the US approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization. ."COVID-19 vaccines were first authorized for emergency use in the US in December 2020. Studies following the use of the vaccines showed approximately 90% protection against symptomatic infection, severe illness, and death," said the CDC on its website. .Anyone who questioned the efficacy of the vaccines was labelled a conspiracy theorist. .As time went on, data started to reveal the vaccines did not prevent symptoms or infection. Nor did they prevent transmission, especially with the emergence of new variants. .Today, the narrative has changed and it is now stated on the CDC's website the COVID-19 vaccines will protect against severe illness and death, but protection diminishes over time and some have suggested a booster may be required every 90 days. .Although the Department of Health recently announced a booster would be needed every nine months to stay "up to date" on COVID-19 vaccination, a federal advisory committee on September 1 said that could change to a shot every 90 days. .READ MORE: Vaccines may be needed every 90 days, federal advisory committee claims.“We were at the beginning, you know, ‘Run, don’t walk, get your first vaccine, get the first vaccine that’s available to you,’” said Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical advisor to the health department..“It was really straightforward in terms of that initial messaging. But it does get more complicated, right, because we are in a different situation.”.On June 30, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said a shot every nine months was sufficient. .Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, said a booster every six months “is not enough” due to waning effectiveness..“If you’ve had a previous booster dose, whatever number you’ve had before, or infection, you should wait six months, but certainly based on local circumstances, other considerations, that interval may be decreased down to like three months or so,” said Njoo..The idea of being "fully vaccinated" has evolved into "staying up to date," according to Duclos. .Other topics considered "conspiracy theories" have been proven accurate including The Great Reset and digital IDs. .Although many balked at the concept a group of billionaires running secret shadow governments were working towards "The Great Reset," the World Economic Forum (WEF) has had reference to the initiative on its website throughout the pandemic. ."There is an urgent need for global stakeholders to cooperate in simultaneously managing the direct consequences of the COVID-19 crisis," reads the website. ."To improve the state of the world, the [WEF] is starting The Great Reset initiative." .Referring to the pandemic as a "unique window of opportunity to shape the recovery," the WEF said the pandemic and it's disruptions, "is fundamentally changing the traditional context for decision-making." ."Drawing from the vision and vast expertise of the leaders engaged across the Forum’s communities, the Great Reset initiative has a set of dimensions to build a new social contract that honours the dignity of every human being," said the WEF. .With regard to digital IDs, according to Interac, digital identity and digital government services are "part of the future of life in Canada." .READ MORE: Interac touting digital ID for use in healthcare, real estate, air travel.The need for digital IDs for Canadians to prove their identities securely has been accelerated by the pandemic, according to Interac..Referred to as a "convenient identification framework," digital IDs will make getting government licences quicker via a simple download into a digital wallet. Information changes to government agencies would be quicker along with quick and easy digital payment options. .The transfer and storage of healthcare information, tied to your personal digital ID, would be faster and more easily accessible by healthcare workers. .Many fear the digital ID framework will open the door to Canada implementing a social credit system similar to the government of the People's Republic of China, but that is a conspiracy theory for another day.
