'Getting our feet under us:' Ottawa restaurants adjust to new COVID-19 vaccine passport
Ottawa restaurant owners are asking patrons to be patient and understanding as Ontario rolls out the new COVID-19 vaccination passport for non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting Wednesday, residents 12 and over must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to dine-in at restaurants, and attend bars, gyms, movie theatres, concerts and sporting events.
At Metropolitan Brasserie, co-owner Sarah Chown says, "So far, so good."
"We're getting our feet under us and seeing a number of different actual vaccination receipts come in from different provinces, and we actually had a Swiss one today," said Chown during an interview on Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.
"So, we're learning to identify where we find the information."
Businesses will be asking patrons for a paper or digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccination receipt and a piece of government-issued ID.
Chown says four customers didn't know you needed to be fully vaccinated to dine in-doors in restaurants, while a few customers didn't have the proper documents and had to eat on the patio.
"Some people didn't realize it had to be 14 days out, a lot of people didn't realize the identification they show needs to show the matching name and date of birth. We had some people sort of showing government ID that doesn't have date of birth on it," said Chown, who is also the Ottawa Chair of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association.
"A few questions from people, and I had a couple of people didn't realize they needed to have it at all, but word will get out there."
At the Brass Monkey on Greenbank Road, owner Scott Ruffo says he has faced opposition to the vaccine passport system after informing customers on social media about the new regulations this week.
"Within minutes, before I turned off the comments on that particular post, I think we had about 30 comments from people saying we were divisionist, which is a new term I've never heard," said Ruffo on Newstalk 580 CFRA.
"It's clearly not the case, we're complying. We're just another small business like many around the country and around the world that are trying to keep our doors open after 18 months of really, really taking a hard loss."
The Brass Monkey is currently open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Ruffo says he will be adding staff to enforce the proof of vaccination requirements and make sure employees do not face any issues alone.
"This time of day I usually have one employee working – I have a bartender on who handles our pool tables during the evening and stuff like that," said Ruffo. "Now I have to have a second person on just to ensure that there are two people in the venue the entire time because I'm a little concerned about having one woman in there working by herself and if she's faced with any issues, I don't want her to be alone. It's doubled up my payroll for sure."
With businesses already facing a tight labour market, this might mean additional hires.
"This is yet another demand on small businesses and the people that work there," said Steve Beckta, owner of Beckta Dining and Wine, Gezellig and Play Food and Wine.
Beckta expects the vaccine passport will be part of the new pandemic normal soon.
"I think in a couple of weeks I think it'll be second nature."
Premier Doug Ford told reporters on Wednesday the new proof of vaccination system is the "best chance" to avoid another lockdown.
“But, let me be very clear, this is a temporary and exceptional measure. We will only use these certificates for as long as they are needed and not one day longer," said Ford.
Ruffo expects the COVID-19 vaccine passports to remain in place until the spring.
Back at Metropolitan Brasserie, Chown says the new proof of vaccination system will add extra time for customers at the door.
"Given it's day one and some folks aren't prepared and don't have it up on their phone when they arrive," said Chown.
"So add some extra time to your visit, be understanding that the host station is learning and they are under a lot of stress to be able to take down all this information, as well as still doing all the contact tracing they have to do.
"If the customer is prepared, you are not looking at a lot of extra time – maybe an extra 30 to 45 seconds or so. If they're not prepared and they have to pull it up on their phones, it does delay the check-in process."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.