Feds promise vaccine passports for travel The Trudeau government announced Wednesday that Canada is getting a vaccine passport for international travel, although it could also be used for domestic purposes if provinces desire, Global reports. “We are working actively with the provinces and territories on a secure, pan-Canadian proof of vaccination for international travel,” Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said. The vaccine certificate will be common across all provinces, and will include the holder’s vaccination history, the date they got it, the type of jab they received and the location where they received their shot. It will be available to all citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents living in Canada who are fully vaccinated. And while the passport is being crafted with international travel in mind, the federal government is happy to work with the provinces to use it as a domestic proof-of-vaccination tool, too, ministers said. Fourth wave: COVID-19 cases are rising after a summer lull, which suggests we are entering a fourth wave of the pandemic, CBC reports. The seven-day average for new daily cases is now close to 1,300—an increase of nearly 60 per cent over the previous week. "We're absolutely in the fourth wave," said Dr. Peter Juni, scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. "There's no doubt about that." But there is hope this spike won't be as dire because about 62 per cent of Canadians are now fully vaccinated. Unprotected individuals around the world have proven vulnerable to the highly contagious Delta variant in recent weeks, with surges of cases—including serious infections and deaths—in areas of low vaccine coverage, ranging from entire regions in Africa to certain U.S. states. "This is going to overwhelmingly be a disease of unvaccinated Canadians and under-vaccinated populations," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases physician and member of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine task force. Vaccine check: The Liberal party tells Global News it is checking the vaccine status of its candidates for the election to come, Global reports, but the Conservatives "won’t say if it either requires or is tracking uptake of the shots among its candidates." The NDP says it is asking its candidates to be vaccinated. Admiral to remain on leave: Harjit Sajjan said Wednesday he expects Admiral Art McDonald to remain on leave while the government decides what to do next. The Canadian Press reported earlier Wednesday that McDonald plans to seek a return to his position as chief of the defence staff, after investigators declined to charge him following an investigation. But the defence minister says no: “My initial reaction to this is that my expectation is that Admiral McDonald will remain on leave while we review this situation.” Earlier, the woman behind the allegation told Global News the decision leaves her feeling like she’s been “punched in the stomach.” “I am not surprised as this was exactly why I was reluctant to come forward and why most survivors don’t come forward. It’s not worth it. I feel a little like I’ve gone through hell for nothing,” said Navy Lt. Heather Macdonald. No news on Kovrig: The federal government is not sure when Michael Kovrig will be sentenced, Marc Garneau said Wednesday, Global reports. The foreign minister made the comments after a week in which Chinese courts sentenced Michael Spavor and Robert Schellenberg. Garneau said Canada is involved in talks with Washington and Beijing to secure the return of the two Michaels: “It’s an ongoing process and I know it’s been [going] on for over two and a half years, but it is a process we will not give up on. And we feel it is something that Canada must continue to do.” Erin O'Toole said Tuesday that Canada should consider boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympics: “I know how hard our athletes are training for Beijing, but we are approaching a point where it won’t be safe for Canadians, including Olympic athletes, to travel to China.” Tighter NS race: With a week to go before Nova Scotians vote, a poll shows the Conservatives and NDP closing the gap with the governing Liberals, who remain in the lead. Liberals 40, PCs 31, NDP 27. The polls shows an unusually large number of undecided voters. Intelligence warning: A former intelligence official with the Privy Council office has a column on cigionline.org that warns that if MPs demand to receive classified intelligence—as they are seeking in the Winnipeg lab controversy—Canada's "access to classified intelligence would completely disappear." Quebec divided over Simon: The vice-regal appointment of Mary Simon, an Inuk who does not speak French, has irked about a third of Quebecers, a poll from the Angus Reid Institute finds. On the other hand, the poll finds most Canadians approve of the appointment of the new governor general, and many Quebec francophones don't mind. — Stephen Maher | 