Quebec has started revoking fake vaccine passports one week after investigation launched
Quebec has already revoked fake vaccine passports as it begins to crack down on fraudsters trying to bypass the public health measure.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) confirmed to CTV News that nine phoney QR codes have been revoked so far since it launched an anti-corruption probe into alleged fraud schemes, and that "sanctions will be applied."
"The computerized tools allowing this revocation are in operation and QR codes have indeed been revoked." a ministry spokesperson said in an email statement on Friday.
A ministerial decree issued earlier this month allows a vaccine passport to be revoked if the government has reasonable grounds to believe it was unlawfully obtained, "notably by means of false or misleading statements."
The ministry said it wouldn’t publicize its data on QR code revocations in order to not interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Quebec’s anti-corruption unit, Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC), launched an investigation on Jan. 19 into "various fraudulent schemes" to make and distribute fake vaccination passports.
The following day, Health Minister Christian Dubé said when restaurants reopen — which is scheduled for Monday — they will be able to flag fake vaccine passports and potentially prevent people caught using them from entering.
Mathieu Galarneau, a UPAC spokesperson, said the agency was investigating a "large number" of reports of fraudulent passports since late fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Monkeypox: What is it and how does it spread?
A growing number of countries, including Canada, the U.S., Spain, Portugal, and the U.K, are reporting an unusual outbreak of monkeypox. Here is what we know about this rare virus.

Canada inflation: How we compare to other G7 nations
With a meeting of G7 finance ministers underway this week, a CTVNews.ca analysis found that while Canadians are feeling the pain of record-high inflation, among G7 nations we are surpassed by Germany, the U.S., and the U.K.
911 dispatcher who took Buffalo shooting call put on leave
A 911 dispatcher has been placed on leave and may lose her job after allegedly hanging up on an supermarket employee hiding during this weekend's shooting rampage in Buffalo, New York.
Service Canada increases staffing at passport counters, but long waits persist
With lengthy delays for Canadians seeking to get a new or renewed passport, Service Canada says it’s upped staffing at passport service counters to expedite processing ahead of the summer travel season. Yet, travellers say they’re still facing long wait times.
Jason Kenney has quit as UCP leader. What happens to the party and government now?
With Jason Kenney having stepped down as leader of Alberta's United Conservative Party, who is now leader of the province?
Conservatives want Canada to revert to pre-pandemic travel rules
The Conservative Party is doubling down on its call for the federal government to do away with travel restrictions and revert back to 'pre-pandemic rules' in light of recent airport delays.
Rosmarie Trapp, whose family inspired 'Sound of Music,' dies
Rosmarie Trapp, whose Austrian family the von Trapps was made famous in the musical and beloved movie 'The Sound of Music,' has died.
OPINION | Don Martin: Premier Jason Kenney deserved a better death
There's a lesson for Canada's political leaders in the short life and quick death of Jason Kenney as premier of Alberta, writes Don Martin in an exclusive opinion column for CTVNews.ca.
NEW | Man charged in Edison Avenue homicide in Winnipeg; police investigating possibility of more victims
The Winnipeg Police Service has changed a 35-year-old man with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a woman whose remains were found near an apartment building in North Kildonan, and police are investigating the possibility of more victims.