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'If you want to see a live performance, get your double-dose': Ontario's sport minister

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St. Thomas, Ont. -

Fans will be welcomed into OHL arenas this fall, but Ontario's Minister of Sport is encouraging those who want to attend to get vaccinated.

"In order for us to get back to normal and get back fans in the stands to see all of our athletes...or if you want to go to a live concert or to live performance, you're going to need to get double vaccinated," says Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

"I'm not saying it's mandatory, but I'm telling you that's the biggest way that we're going to be able to thrive in society and recover economically and socially, is getting that double dose. So I encourage all Ontarians, if you love those things that we did pre-pandemic, and you want them back, the best way for us to have a fighting chance at doing that is getting your double dose."

Speaking in Windsor, Ont. Wednesday morning, MacLeod said currently 1,000 fans could be indoors at a game.

"Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll see restrictions ease so we'll get even more people into our OHL games," says MacLeod.

The OHL says it can't mandate spectators be vaccinated because the facilities are municipally owned. Local health units will work with municipalities to determine how to proceed with spectators and the vaccine.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is continuing to advocate for the public to get vaccinated, and requiring vaccines to attend events like sports, and festivals could help drive the numbers up.

"Having to be vaccinated before you go into a group environment helps increase the vaccination rate because it's another incentive for people to get vaccinated," says Dr. Alex Summers, associate medical officer of health with MLHU.

"We're seeing some businesses implement mandatory vaccination policies for people that use their services. Businesses may actually be able to explore that as a really reasonable option, because it's helpful for those of us who are vaccinated and who want to go and participate in safe activities, it's a real stamp of confidence if the business says you know what, if you're coming here everybody else is getting vaccinated."

Summers says they'll be keeping an eye on the provincial landscape, and thinks there may be more mandatory vaccination policies down the road.

"That will be an ongoing conversation throughout the course of the summer," says Summers.

Effective immediately, the Ontario Hockey League is making it mandatory to be fully vaccinated. Citing risk factors associated with close indoor contact -- all players, coaches, trainers, team and league staff, officials, volunteers and billet families must be vaccinated.

"I think the players are willing to do whatever it takes to get back," says Mark Woolley, a defenceman with the Owen Sound Attack.

"Nobody wants to get shut down again, so I think we're all kind of just with the mindset of do whatever it takes to get back to normal.'

Mark Woolley Owen Sound Attack defenceman in his hometown of St. Thomas, Ont. on April 5, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)
Mark Woolley, Owen Sound Attack defenceman, in his hometown of St. Thomas, Ont. on April 5, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)

The OHL says it will comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) (or applicable state and U.S. federal legislation) and provide accommodation up to the point of undue hardship to any OHL community member who is unable to be vaccinated for substantiated medical reasons and/or on grounds protected under the OHRC. The OHL will work with an independent medical advisor appointed by the commissioner to assist with accommodation issues.

"I don't want to name guys personally but I do know that there is players out there that don't want to get the vaccine," says Woolley.

"That's a personal choice for them. I personally don't really think it's fair to have to force somebody to get it if they don't feel comfortable, but other leagues made it mandatory in what they believe is the safest way possible. There's going to be some exemptions and I'm not 100 per cent sure on the details and all that but majority of players will will be vaccinated."

The entire OHL vaccine policy can be found here.

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