Some small town business owners are confused, concerned about Alberta's new vaccine policy
The morning after Alberta announced new health measures to try and relieve the mounting pressure on its hospitals, Alex Galanis was in his Olds, Alta. restaurant trying to make sense of the rules.
"We're in shock by it," he said, explaining he isn't sure exactly how to implement and enforce the new Restriction Exemption Program (REP) the province is rolling out on Monday.
If businesses don't opt in to the REP -- which requires them to ask customers for proof of vaccination or to provide a negative COVID-19 test result -- they will be subject to a long list of rules that limit how they operate and the hours in which they can serve people.
"We just don't see how it's going to work, especially with our clientele and demographic here," says Galanis, who owns the Grouchy Daddy's restaurant in town.
"My biggest fear is they're not going to be receptive to it. And rather than come out and support us, I think they're just going to say 'enough is enough'," he said.
The town of Olds is lagging behind the provincial average of eligible people fully vaccinated and it's also in the Central Zone, where hospitalizations have spiked to become the most-hospitalized health region per capita in Alberta.
Grumpy Daddy's Restaurant, Olds, Alberta, Sept.16 2021
While just over 71 per cent of Albertans 12 and older have been fully immunized, the vaccination rate in Olds sits just below 65 per cent.
Speaking to some residents of the town shows divisive views of an issue the new proof of vaccination rules are in the area.
"They could have started this a couple months ago. And taking their time, it's a big scramble to try and get your passport, certificate, or whatever the heck you want to call the stupid thing," said one man in town.
A woman CTV News spoke to just moments later felt even stronger that the requirement should never have been implemented.
"I think it sucks. I'm sorry, but I do. I think it's absolutely ludicrous and I think they should let people get back to normal and fight their own... they just don't need something like that."
Under Alberta's REP, customers will need to prove they're vaccinated or provide a negative test result, but staff at the same businesses don't need to.
"If I made a mandatory vaccination for my staff, I'd probably lose 70 per cent of them because I know for a fact a lot of them don't support them, they don't want to," Galanis says.
The province's new gathering restrictions and Alberta-wide mask mandate came into effect Thursday morning. The proof of vaccination policy starts on Sept. 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
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.
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.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
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.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.