Circulating reports indicate a remote Canadian town will require a QR code to enter or leave.

Unsurprisingly, the reports have sparked severe criticism.

The controversy stems from Îles-de-la-Madeleine, an archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The municipality, consisting of 12 islands, is home to approximately 12,000 residents.

A proposed $30 tourist fee caused an uproar.

“The municipal council of Îles-de-la-Madeleine wishes to adopt a new measure for its citizens, namely that of mandatory identification to leave their municipality,” TVA Nouvelles wrote (translated).

“Canada now has a town that forces you to scan a QR code to enter and leave, and then charges you a $30 tax,” journalist Keean Bexte commented.

“Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has become the first municipality in Canada to officially require a QR code to enter and leave,” The Counter Signal noted.

“Madeleine Island getting QR codes in order to leave and if you don’t get your QR code, you will be fined,” one woman claimed in a viral video.

“That’s the very first QR code prison here in Canada. And it is going to sweep the nation faster than you can think if people don’t stand up and take a stand against these QR codes,” she continued.

“It’s not happening in your town yet but it most certainly will be,” she added.

WATCH:

Officials reportedly said the QR code requirement to leave the archipelago Îles-de-la-Madeleine will only apply to tourists.

Residents must show their driver’s license to enter or leave, The Counter Signal noted.

“QR Codes coming to a remote Canadian island in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Île de la Madeleine! This is real, not a conspiracy theory. Time to stand united, rally behind our fellow Canadians. Let’s strategize how to halt this trend and send a clear message: Canadians will not embrace QR codes or a social credit system,” Purdy Talks wrote, sharing what appears to be footage from a municipal council meeting.

“This video explains that visitors to the island won’t require a code to enter; however, tourists must show a QR code for departure. Residents, on the other hand, only need to present their driver’s license with an island address,” the post continued.

“The exit check is implemented to confirm the absence of any municipal infractions, which officials claim is to support the island’s infrastructure. There are discussions among officials asserting that this process is akin to presenting identification for air or sea travel. However, a woman argues that those are services we opt to use, distinct from leaving our homes. They engage in a back-and-forth; the official labels her statement as an opinion, but she counters it’s a fact. The official dismisses her and essentially shuts her down, treating her as if she were a child,” the post added.

YouTube backup:

The Counter Signal reports:

The decision to require a QR code and identification for the municipality’s 12,000+ residents came after the municipal government announced they would begin charging all visitors who come to Îles-de-la-Madeleine $30, something which hasn’t gone down well with the locals or their family members who visit them.

Of the many concerns, one that officials sought to address was ensuring that visitors had paid their fees before leaving, hence the introduction of a mandatory QR code to leave the islands. If you don’t pay, you can’t get the QR code and won’t be able to leave.

This was initially intended for residents, too, but following an outpour of criticism, officials backed down and now say that residents only have to show their driver’s licence.

Residents, however, aren’t happy about this either, saying it’s absolutely ludicrous to have to prove their identity whenever they want to leave their homes and go to other places within their own country.

Many have also stated that this is an attack on their Charter Rights, which officials have denied.

“1st city in Canada to require a QR code and a tourist tax of $30 to leave Îles-de-la-Madeleine, an island in Quebec. But hey, it’s all for your wealth & safety! And agenda 2030 & 15 min cities are conspiracy theories,” podcaster and journalist Efrat Fenigson commented.

Per Radio-Canada:

One week before the implementation of the tourist fee, the mayor of Îles-de-la-Madeleine is calling for calm after receiving hateful messages and insults.

The $30 fee imposed to visit the Îles-de-la-Madeleine has sparked heated debates both in the archipelago and elsewhere in Quebec, to such an extent that the Municipality of Îles-de-la-Madeleine has closed the comments section from his Facebook page.

“We noticed that there is a movement which is not necessarily located in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, but we see that it has rallied activists who, in their messages and in their comments, make completely unacceptable comments.” , relates the mayor, Antonin Valiquette.

For some, such a municipal bylaw is an unreasonable attack on their freedom. This is the case of Chanie Thériault, a resident of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

The issue here is not exclusively the $30 extra to be paid for a foreigner. For me, it is preventing Quebecers and Canadians from accessing their own territory without being taxed, therefore without hindering freedom of movement , she explains.

A perception refuted by the mayor of the Islands, who recalls that the objective of such a measure is the preservation of the territory . We are not stopping people from traveling in the Magdalen Islands , insists the elected official.

The outlet offered this definition of the fee:

Between May 1 and October 14, visitors to the Magdalen Islands will have to pay a fee of $30 plus taxes, payable via a secure payment platform. This fee will be used to finance the management of residual materials, the maintenance of recreational tourism infrastructure and the establishment and operation of a regional park on public lands.

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