Lifting restrictions 'like ripping off a Band-Aid before wound has healed': Chamber of Commerce president and CEO

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce said the province's announcement that it was lifting some restrictions beginning at midnight "ignores the importance of consumer confidence in economic recovery."
Chamber President and CEO Deborah Yedlin released a statement early Tuesday evening that said the province's initiative wasn't backed up by corresponding scientific data.
Yedlin compared the lifting of the Restrictions Exemption Program as being akin to "ripping off a Band-Aid before the wound has healed."
"The latest data gathered from wastewater tracking by UCalgary shows the viral load is declining at a slower rate compared with how quickly it rose," she said, in a statement. "The changes made today are sudden – and have been announced against a backdrop of tools such as rapid testing and contact tracing no longer being available to help businesses keep staff and patrons safe and comfortable."
Yedlin said acting prematurely might produce exactly the opposite result the province desires.
'UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES'
"Lifting these restrictions will likely lead to several unintended consequences," she said. "Businesses that rely on discretionary spending may see a decline in revenue as consumers choose to stay home and minimize the potential for exposure.
"Industries and public services that rely on front-line employees are already facing severe labour shortages – and jeopardizing the comfort and safety of staff is likely to exacerbate these challenges.
"Schools may see an increase in infection rates, sending children and teachers home and disrupting work patterns and productivity for many parents."
"We would all like to return to having no restrictions and going back to seeing loved ones and engaging in all the activities we enjoy," she said. "But we must only do so only when we have adequate certainty that the probability of infection and illness is very low and that a more severe variant is not on the horizon.
"We are not there yet.
"To facilitate the ability to treat this as endemic, we urge all orders of government to work together to provide businesses with the option to continue with pandemic measures, the tools to stay open and safe and clarity on overlapping regulations."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian police chiefs speak out on death of Black man beaten by U.S. officers
Canadian police chiefs condemned on Friday the death of a Black man who was savagely beaten by police during a traffic stop in the United States, saying the officers involved must be held accountable.

How to get over the 'mental hurdle' of being active in the winter
When the cold and snow have people hunkering down, these outdoor enthusiasts find motivation in braving the Canadian winter through community and sport.
Memphis police disband unit that beat Tyre Nichols
The Memphis police chief on Saturday disbanded the unit whose officers beat to death Tyre Nichols as the nation and the city struggled to come to grips with video showing police pummelling the Black motorist.
Listening to personal testimonies may deter students from vaping, study finds
According to a new study, showing university students the health risks of vaping through experts and personal testimonies can help deter them from using e-cigarettes.
Health Canada sticks with Evusheld despite U.S. FDA dropping the COVID drug
Health Canada says it will continue to recommend COVID-19 prevention drug, Evulsheld, despite U.S. FDA pulling back its emergency use authorization due to concerns around its efficacy against Omicron subvariant 'Kraken.'
Germany won't be a 'party to the war' amid tanks exports to Ukraine: Ambassador
The German ambassador to Canada says Germany will not become 'a party to the conflict' in Ukraine, despite it and several other countries announcing they'll answer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas for tanks, possibly increasing the risk of Russian escalation.
W5 EXCLUSIVE | Interviewing a narco hitman: my journey into Mexico's cartel heartland
W5 goes deep into the narco heartland to interview a commander with one of Mexico's most brutal cartels. W5's documentary 'Narco Avocados' airs Saturday at 7 pm on CTV.
OPINION | Selling a home? How to know if you qualify for a capital gains exemption
When selling a home, Canadians may be exempted from paying capital gains tax on a residential property -- if it's their principal residence. On CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explains what's determined as a principal residence, and what properties are eligible for the exemption.
What we know -- and still don't know -- about what led to Tyre Nichols' death
Tyre Nichols was hospitalized after he was pulled over on January 7, police have said. Five Memphis Police Department officers, who also are Black, were fired after an internal investigation and are facing criminal charges, including second-degree murder.