(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Jordan Davidson

businesses frustrated

“Respectfully, no,” says Red Deer Chamber CEO to vaccine passports

Aug 13, 2021 | 2:17 PM

A vaccination passport system is the latest topic causing division as Canadians trudge through the evolving pandemic.

The Government of Québec recently decided that starting Sept. 1, a vaccination passport system will be implemented for places with high capacity and high rates of contact, such as bars, restaurants, festivals, gyms, and other training facilities.

Here in Alberta, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce said this week it would be supportive of a vaccine passport system, opining that it would help protect businesses from further COVID-related shutdowns.

Rick More, CEO, Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce, respectfully disagrees with the Calgary Chamber about the need for a vaccine passport system.

Although he hasn’t spoken to all 840 member businesses, More says he isn’t sure many would agree with the Calgary Chamber.

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“It can come down to each business,” he says. “They are private and they can accept anyone they want, but it just adds another layer for those businesses who are still concerned about the welfare of their employees, and so they should be.”

He says some companies are still struggling to find enough workers to fill shifts, adding that he doesn’t think asking these employees to now have to check for vaccine passports, or if a passport is legitimate, is logistically feasible.

This would especially be an issue in the hospitality and restaurant industry, More believes.

“They’re finally getting back to living again, and yet they can’t even get enough help right now. They are understaffed and the pressures on those that are working are immeasurable too, and until things like CERB are finished, they will be in that same boat.”

More goes on, pointing out consumers have the choice to go to a business or not, adding that getting vaccinated has really helped him feel more comfortable going out.

“I am certainly respectful of the hospitals, their capacities, and what is happening there, but we also have to look at what the outcome will be for us pushing back other areas of disease and mental health,” he says.

“We have always pursued that X number of cases and it’s that fear number. I think we have been just looking at the numbers instead of really determining what those numbers mean.”

He says businesses have been unable to plan for the future because of the ever-changing rules and recommendations during the pandemic, with frustration starting to set in.

“You can’t move forward, you can’t plan anything. We are fearful for some events. Take Agri-Trade for instance and how big it is for this city, and you have to have confidence that you can plan these things and whether you can do it safely, and obviously we would. But you still can’t be sitting here saying, ‘I wonder if’? We have to start moving forward.”

(with files from The Canadian Press)

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