'We're bartenders and servers,' Business owners worry about burden of vaccine certificates
When Ontario's new vaccination requirements come into effect on Wednesday, the onus will be on businesses to handle approving vaccination proof or face possible fines.
But some local business owners feel the responsibility is misplaced.
"We're bartenders and servers. We're not medical professionals," said The Lockerroom owner Dana Parris.
"And it does feel like it's a little bit of a stab to put us in that position," Parris added.
To streamline the process, The Lockerroom in Barrie is working on a homemade, physical vaccine certificate for regulars before the provincial QR code rolls out next month.
"Once we verify that they've been vaccinated, match it with their ID, then we give them their own card, so they don't have to pull out every little document when they come in next time," Parris explained.
The aim is also to prevent awkward encounters.
Parris said they are still hammering out the logistics of who will be tasked with asking for proof of vaccination and when.
"Like most other restaurants in Ontario, we're all struggling. A little short-staffed."
She said that hiring someone to man the door just isn't realistic.
"I really don't have it in the budget. Over the last 18 months, with the amount of shutdowns, we have to hire a security guard to ask everyone when they come in?"
Restaurants and bars aren't the only facilities expected to check vaccine certificates.
Steven Fontaine, general manager with the Barrie Minor Hockey Association, said the government's expectations have caused "confusion."
The province requires parents watching their children playing hockey to be fully vaccinated, but not the kids playing.
However, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) announced earlier this month that all eligible players would be required to be fully vaccinated.
"OMHA will be mandating that all eligible participants involved in minor hockey are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 for the upcoming season. All eligible participants are required to be fully vaccinated by October 31, 2021," it stated in a release.
Fontaine said the OMHA planned to reconvene over the weekend. "We're hoping for a clearer picture early next week."
He said about a dozen players pulled out once the vaccine mandate was announced, and others suddenly felt safe enough to sign up.
Fontaine said if the league's policy changes, it could mean another redrawing of rosters.
Meanwhile, Parris is trying to remain optimistic about the new policy.
"It's better than a lockdown," she concluded.
The province said businesses and patrons could face fines starting at $750 for not following the new vaccination requirements.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.