Overnight, the cordons, security guards and receptionists who check the proof of vaccination at the entrance to restaurants have disappeared in Alberta. The relief of many restaurateurs, however, is tinged with caution.
As dinner time approaches, the Workshop Eatery Edmonton is buzzing with activity. A forgotten poster at the entrance still indicates that you must show proof of vaccination to be able to eat inside.
The hostess takes the time to pick it up between two customers.
Relief and nervousness
Paul Shufelt, owner of the Robert Spencer restaurant and hospitality group, welcomed the sudden end of the restrictions exemption program with a little anxiety and a little hope».
I feel a little worried that it’s happening so quickly, but we believe we’ve done enough to keep our customers safe.»
He also worries that some customers, who felt safe thanks to the restrictions exemption program, will no longer come to the restaurant.
The vaccine passport, however, also came with its own share of hassles.
The one to ask his staff to manage the few, few, but disturbing and noisy customers, who refused to comply with the rules, was not the least.
© Hugo Levesque/The New York Times
Paul Shufelt, owner of the Robert Spencer Group, which includes the Eatery Workshop, is happy, if a little nervous to get rid of QR codes.
There’s this anxiety, of constantly wondering if your people are safe, not just because of the virus, but because of angry customers“, he said.
Adam Strickland, bar manager of Cold Garden in Calgary, is also relieved to see the workload of staff decrease.
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When large groups arrived, it only took two for a huge tail to form. We had to make non-stop rounds to check if people had their stamps or to check passports. It was creating a big inefficiency in the industry.»
The order of relaxation criticized
Adam Strickland admits, however, that he is puzzled that the government abolished the vaccination passport first, while the ban on selling alcohol after 23 hours is still in force.
I would have liked it to be the opposite, that maybe we keep the vaccination passport, but that we can extend our sales hours.»
It’s the same bell ringing at the Alberta Hospitality Association.
The restriction exemption program could have been abolished in Phase 3, not Phase 1“, says the president, Ernie Tsu, who also owns the restaurant-bar Trolley 5, in Calgary.
The defense of selling alcohol after 23 hours and the requirement to have a maximum of 10 customers per table who must otherwise sit in their seats hurt the industry’s finances much more than the vaccine passport, he said.
Moreover, he assures that this is exactly what the members of his association have repeatedly expressed to the government.
As a growing number of restaurants are falling into debt, he says he is disappointed that the government has not heeded these comments.
Paul Shufelt hopes that the health situation will not force, once again, the provincial authorities to go back.
I am hopeful that the worst is behind us and that we can move forward, but [je reste] realistic too“, he says, recalling the promises to be open for good“of the government and the multiple waves of the pandemic that he hoped each time would be the last.
Scalded cat is afraid of cold water.»
On Wednesday afternoon, Edmonton City Council voted unanimously to develop its own form of vaccine passport.
Calgary considered, then ruled out this option on the same day.
With information from Stéphanie Rousseau