Some Halifax Restaurants Say ‘Good Riddance’ To Vaccine Passports
HALIFAX-Restaurants across Halifax are preparing for what is, hopefully, the beginning of their economic rebound after two long, hard years in survival mode.
The signs are looking good: spring is around the corner and the province has started lifting health restrictions. Finally, restaurants don’t have to keep tables six feet apart–a rule that dramatically reduced capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Restaurants can now operate at 75 percent capacity and, most importantly, the province dropped proof-of-vaccination requirements for restaurants and other businesses on February 28.
Luc Erjavec, the Atlantic representative for Restaurants Canada, summed up the industry’s response to disappearing vaccine passports.
“To a tee, it’s been ‘good riddance,’” he told Huddle in a recent interview.
Erjavec isn’t against vaccines, nor has he always been against mandates. But he said he always had a problem with the province forcing restaurants and other businesses to enforce the vaccine mandate.
He argues it required more resources, including money and staffing, for businesses to be compliant.
“We’re into the business of welcoming people into our restaurants and showing them hospitality, not being Covid police and refusing them entry,” said Erjavec.
But most importantly, Erjavec is hopeful people will get the message that it’s okay to leave the house and dine in again.
“Every time a restriction is loosened it rebounds consumer confidence and customers come out,” he said. “For too long they’ve told people to stay home. It’s time for them to say ‘come on out, support your local business.’”
Brian Doherty owns one of the most popular spots to dine and drink in Halifax: The Old Triangle. Despite its popularity, the alehouse on Prince Street has had to rely on Covid relief programs, like most restaurants across Canada.
Doherty thinks the timing is right to lift restrictions so restaurants can get back to doing what they do best: serving people as they enjoy the dine-in experience.
“It’s not subsidies we need, it’s people we need,” said Doherty in his lilting Irish accent. “People are the life’s blood in the food and beverage industry. Without them, it won’t survive.
“It’d be pretty boring if all we have to depend on are take-out establishments.”
Doherty believes people can start going out and socializing again while still exercising caution in a world still dealing with Covid variants.
“I’m more of glass-half-full [person]; I like to look on the positive side of this,” he proclaimed. “Moving away from restrictions isn’t going to cure the disease but keeping the restrictions isn’t going to get rid of it either.
“I’d rather have more freedom of movement and still be careful how we do things…This ain’t going away, so we do our best to live with it and I think many people in the world have accepted now.”
Not every business leader in Halifax is so enthusiastic about the vax pass being lifted. Patrick Sullivan, the CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, says he has “apprehension,” about the move.
“I will admit I’m a little apprehensive about the vax pass ([being lifted]; not personally, but I know there are people who are concerned about Covid–and they should rightfully be: they felt some security with the vaccination pass.”
Sullivan even pushed back a little against the idea that the vax pass was “controversial.” He said it may have been controversial in the beginning but the majority of Nova Scotians got used to it over time.
He points out the fact that most Nova Scotians (more than 80 percent) have received at least two doses of a vaccine.
“If you did hear complaints, I think they were from a vocal minority.”
There has been some discussion, as provinces across Canada start lifting mandates, on whether some businesses would voluntarily keep asking for proof of vaccination.
Sullivan believes businesses in Nova Scotia can, legally, set their own Covid policies. But he cautioned that businesses may face some flak if they chose to keep enforcing something that is no longer government-mandated.
“Your establishment is private property. Having said that, I think it will be difficult without the backing of public health. And there will be people not enthusiastic about providing that information,” Sullivan said.
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].