New Calgary COVID-19 bylaw will make vaccine passport program mandatory
Calgary councillors attending a special meeting of city council on Wednesday afternoon voted to pass a new COVID-19 bylaw that makes it mandatory for all eligible local businesses to opt into Alberta's vaccine passport program.
The vote to pass the bylaw was nearly unanimous with only Ward 11 Coun. Jeromy Farkas in opposition.
The new bylaw includes (but is not limited to) restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, casinos, bingo halls and VLT lounges – all of which were eligible to opt into the province's Restrictions Exception Program.
It will also apply to recreation facilities in Calgary, meaning anyone over the age of 12 will need to show proof of vaccination status or a negative COVID-19 test to enter. The bylaw will not apply to anyone under the age of 18 participating in a school-related activity or anyone receiving health, wellness or personal services.
A slide shown in Calgary city council on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, shows which Calgary businesses would require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-test.
"This is no silver bullet, Calgarians. This is a mop-up job because of the failure of the leadership of Premier (Jason) Kenney," Ward 13 Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart said.
"I do believe that, with his failure of leadership, this is a dereliction of duty," she said. Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he feels the UCP's refusal to use the term "vaccine passport" when speaking about the program is causing confusion.
"Businesses were really saying that it is not fair and we're getting the brunt of abuse because the province has made it look like it's our choice when it's really not our choice," Nenshi said.
"So, they were really asking us, 'listen, make it a bylaw so that we can say that it is a bylaw.'"
Calgary peace officers were unable to enforce the restrictions in the REP program, but passing the bylaw gives them the power to do so.
The bylaw comes with a $500 fine for people and/or businesses that don't comply and will be effective as Thursday.
"I don't agree with bringing in an additional city vaccine passport on top of what the province has already implemented," said Farkas, the only councillor to vote against the bylaw.
"I understand why people want the city to clean up the mess that the province has made, but this is confusing enough already."
The city has already created signage for businesses to display the bylaw and what is required by patrons.
Failure to display the fine could result in a $200 fine.
The meeting, which was attended virtually, also discussed Calgary's recently-launched COVID-19 Business Support Program, including a mobile vaccination program with five vehicles.
CEMA Chief Sue Henry said Wednesday that Calgary has 5,487 active COVID-19 cases, 300 per 100,000 people. Of those, she said 262 people are in hospital with COVID-19, including 64 in ICU.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.