Montreal businesses have mixed reactions to COVID-19 vaccine passport
The Quebec government has blocked certain non-essential services from people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, asking that businesses across the province request clients show proof of vaccination.
With the health measure officially in effect starting Wednesday, some business owners are having mixed reactions to the regulation.
At Jukebox Burgers in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, in Montreal's West Island, staff are making sure to scan QR codes and request matching photo ID.
It takes a minute, and sometimes clients can get impatient. Co-owner Marc Emond notes a small percentage of people have even resisted the mask-wearing rules.
"There have been a few hostile, elevated experiences here at the restaurant for the anti-maskers and I'm just trying to prevent [that] happening with the vaccine passport," he said, adding the restaurant posted on its website that it intends to follow the rules, leading to some negative feedback.
Emond notes he's worried about resistance because he's trying to follow the rules.
"I called the police wanting to find out who will enforce those fines if they do occur and they commented it was not them," he said. "I asked, 'if there is an elevated experience at my door with a customer, can I call you to contain the situation?' and they said, 'yes, please call us.'"
Other restaurants have decided to take a different approach.
Le Petit Vibe, in Côte-des-Neiges, posted a message on its Instagram stating that in the name of "human rights and freedoms" it would be closing its dining room to customers and only offering take-out and delivery.
"It's tough to close the dine-in, we lose customers," said Willson Luu, with the restaurant. "[We] had to turn away customers today."
He says reaction to the decision has been mostly positive, but he knows this is only the beginning of the province's COVID-19 vaccine passport journey.
"I'm not an anti-vaxxer, I'm doubly-vaxxed. It's taking away freedoms from people deciding whether they want to get vaccinated or not and to put a law on it, I don't think it's fair," Luu said. "They're trying to lower cases and the chances of going into another lockdown. I totally understand that, but I don't agree with taking away human freedom and choice."
To see the complete list of activities covered by Quebec's vaccine passport, click here (in French).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
“It's just so hard to let it go. I mean, everyone is telling me, ‘you have to move on,’ but I know someone is not here [anymore]. So I don't know how I will move on." That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.