B.C. vaccine passport: Vancouver restaurants concerned with enforcement post-protests
Posted September 3, 2021 6:15 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – After this week’s loud — and at times aggressive — COVID-19 protests, there are worries within the restaurant industry about what will happen when B.C.’s proof-of-vaccination program starts up on Sept. 13.
A Vancouver restaurant group is among those raising concerns about potential confrontations with people who are against the vaccine passport. Worries have only intensified after Wednesday’s protests.
“I’m obviously concerned. I think there’s the possibility of some strong personalities trying to test the system the first couple of days,” explained Carl McCreath, president of restaurant operations for the Steamworks Restaurant Group. “I’m just hoping we can get through those first few days and hopefully things settle down after that.”
He says there are supports for front-of-house staff, and that managers are quick to step in especially when young hosting staff are involved.
McCreath notes confrontations his staff have had so far when it comes to mask wearing have usually been diffused. However, he admits it’s hard on staff and there is some anxiety surrounding the coming vax-pass system.
“Typically it’s just a verbal conversation that can be fairly loud. Fortunately, I haven’t had any major issues yet, but there’s definitely some anxiety on our side with some of the aggressive personalities that you can see,” he explained.
Starting Sept. 13, people will be required to show proof of at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine for entry into places like restaurants and movie theatres. Specifics about the system that will be used have yet to be laid out, other than people will be using an app to show their vaccination status, or use a phone line.
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“We’re waiting. We haven’t seen what the app looks like, we don’t know what a customer’s going to be showing us when they come in the door — we don’t know the level of certification that they’re going to show us. I think, for the most part, I don’t want to communicate to my operations team and my staff what we’re going to do until I have more information,” McCreath said.
The province will require people show they’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Oct. 24 to access a variety of events, services, and businesses.
“I think everybody’s pretty wound up with the pandemic right now. We’re just trying to be normal business with customers as much as we can and, for the most part, we’ve been able to do it. But there’s definitely been the odd, tense moment,” McCreath said.
He is urging people to be patient with staff, noting the vaccination card and other COVID-19 measures are provincially mandated and that his employees are just doing their job.
-With files from Tamara Slobogean
