Kelowna Chamber of Commerce polarized on vaccine passports

The Kelowna business community is calling for the provincial government to delay the rollout of the vaccine passport program.

The local Chamber of Commerce says a “modest” majority (57%) of respondents to a survey this week were in support of requiring proof of vaccination to enter businesses, but more than a third (36%) were strongly opposed.

“Our members have strong feelings on this subject,” says Jeffrey Robinson, president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. “The common ground seems to be a desire to return to normal, but there are fundamental differences over whether requiring some private businesses to refuse service to unvaccinated customers is consistent with that goal.”

The Chamber also says it has concerns about how government will support businesses that will be required to enforce the vaccine passport.

“Businesses that will be impacted by this decision want to know how it will be enforced and what support government will provide them,” says Chamber executive Director Dan Rogers. “There needs to be clarity so that employees are not unfairly put in conflict with customers so we would encourage government to re-examine the timeline for implementation so businesses can fully understand and reasonably plan for what it appears the government is going to ask them to do.”

The Chamber said their survey also indicated businesses prefer alternate methods to provide proof that a person is not infectious such as low or no-cost rapid tests kits or proof of a recent negative test.

“Given that a significant minority of our population are deeply opposed to vaccination, we think it is incumbent on the government to explore these alternatives” says Robinson. “There are many businesses not being subject to mandatory vaccine verification that are eager to protect their employees and customers using testing.”

The Kelowna Chamber is also arguing that current health restrictions in the Central Okanagan should be lifted when the vaccine passport system is rolled out, noting that if people who are not vaccinated can’t dine in restaurants then an early cut off of liquor sales shouldn’t be needed.

Capacity limits should be increased where vaccine cards are required, the Chamber continued.

“We can appreciate that increased vaccinations will help us get back to normal, but we continue to call on the government to lay out a long-term plan as to what the regulations will be when vaccinations reach their limit in BC—whatever that limit turns out to be,” says Rogers.

“Not everyone will get vaccinated, nor should government force them to, so how does the economy and businesses function in that environment in the long term? The government needs to engage businesses across the province in that discussion, so we know what 2022 looks like.”

The provincial government has said the program will run through to the end of January 31, at least. The Kelowna Chamber is asking from an end date to be entrenched in the order that would need consent of the legislature to extend any longer.

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The Chamber polled members from Thursday August 20 through Tuesday August 24. More than 25% (268) of the Kelowna Chamber’s 1,000 members responded. The short poll asked their opinion on:

Do you support a vaccine verification system for non-essential activities?

RESULT: Yes 157 (57%) / No 97 (36%) / Unsure 18 (7%)

Are you considering any plans to restrict access to your business?

RESULT: Yes 84 (31%) / No 163 (61%) / Unsure 21 (8%)

Are you in favour of a using a low-to-no-cost rapid test kit if it were available?

RESULT: Yes 165 (62%) / No 63 (24%) / Unsure 40 (14%)