Select Calgary-area restaurant owners unwilling to confirm vaccination status of customers
Some Alberta restaurants are moving to an honour system instead of enforcing the province's new vaccine passport system, while others are opting to close their doors to in-person dining altogether after staff were threatened.
The changes highlight the challenging and uncomfortable position hospitality businesses have been placed in following the provincial government's unexpected announcement last week that vaccination requirements must be in place in order to offer indoor dining.
The new public health rules effectively ask bars and restaurants to take a public stance on the COVID-19 vaccination requirement and to ask staff to enforce it. Because it remains optional for businesses, some have become targets of threats and abuse from angry would-be patrons.
Firehouse Bar and Grill in Langdon, just east of Calgary city limits, closed its doors altogether and is electing to offer takeout service exclusively after staff members faced threats over the past weekend.
"It was a no brainer. This is to protect our staff," said co-owner Greg Thompson.
The Pig & Duke Pub in Calgary has posted a notice saying that while it is a "double vaccinated" business, it expects people “will be adults” and not put them in a position where they have to turn customers away.
They say they are checking documents and following all government protocols, and have even lost staff because they were not vaccinated.
Without Papers Pizza in Inglewood posted a similar sign, saying it won't be enforcing the provincial requirements.
CTV News has reached out to the owners of both The Pig & Duke and Without Papers Pizza for comment.
In recent days. hospitality business owners have said they resent the province for putting the onus to police the rules on businesses who have already suffered greatly during the pandemic and enforcement puts staff in direct conflict with at least some of their customers.
Alberta Hospitality Association president Ernie Tsu said in the immediate aftermath of last Wednesday's announcement that the province needs to own its decision and regulate it instead of passing responsibility on to small business.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.