Ottawa Bylaw not expecting a 'huge increase' in calls due to COVID-19 vaccine passports
Ottawa Bylaw is not expecting a "huge increase" in calls when Ontario's new COVID-19 vaccine passport rolls out next week.
Starting Sept. 22, people will be required to provide proof of full vaccination to access non-essential businesses, including the indoor areas of restaurants and bars, indoor areas of meeting and event spaces, indoor areas of sports and recreational facilities, concert venues, theatres, cinemas and sporting venues.
The Ontario government says businesses and organizations will be responsible for ensuring they meet the requirements regarding proof of vaccination to access non-essential businesses.
Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services Director Roger Chapman told the Community and Protective Services Committee meeting on Thursday that staff are currently reviewing the regulations, and informing staff on the regulations and requirements.
"Quite honestly, we're surprised that the regulations are such that they are, they're very basic I think," said Chapman. "When you're talking about restaurants, it's indoors only. Inside some of the sports facilities and such, the passport is required. "
Coun. Diane Deans asked Chapman if Ottawa Bylaw is prepared to respond to any calls regarding the COVID-19 vaccine passport non-compliance.
"We're not anticipating a huge increase in call volume related to this. I think that, particularly, the restaurant industry has been very good at following the regulations," said Chapman.
"We always have some establishments that we have to deal with, but by and large they're very compliant, so we're not anticipating a huge increase in service requests."
Ottawa Bylaw will be meeting with local BIAs on Friday to outline the COVID-19 proof of vaccination rules and regulations.
Chapman says any businesses facing issues with customers can contact 311 or Ottawa police.
"I would suggest that would be a call directly to 311 or to the police's non-emergency phone line. I think if you've got somebody who's refusing to produce proof of their vaccine and the restaurant management is having some difficulty with that person, they should be contacting the police immediately so that somebody can attend and help facilitate the interaction," said Chapman.
Here is a list of settings that will require proof of vaccination, starting Sept. 22.
- Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities
- Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs and restaurants, clubs and other similar establishments
- Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces
- Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions. This includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events
- Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
- Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs
- Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
- Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.