City sends bylaw officer to 'educate' Dundas restaurant with unclear vaccination policy

The city is sending a bylaw officer to "provide education" to a bistro in Dundas about the new provincial proof-of-vaccination rules to curb COVID-19, after the business posted a message prompting questions over its vaccination policy. 

On Wednesday, the same day Ontario's vaccine certificate system came into effect, vegan restaurant Bistro Vie posted a message saying "all are welcome - we don't discriminate."

The message appeared to confuse some online who asked if this was a response to the new public health measures and whether it reflected a stance on the regulation.

Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine verification policy requires people to show proof of two doses and matching identification to enter businesses such as bars, casinos, gyms, restaurants, sports arenas and theatres.

Despite multiple people asking for clarification in the comments, the business didn't answer.

CBC Hamilton contacted the King Street West business Thursday morning and also received no answer.

City spokesperson Ava van Heerden wrote in an email that its bylaw office has not received any complaints about that business in particular. The city is sending an officer to provide education to the restaurant, she said. 

The city is responsible for enforcing regulations related to COVID-19, such as the face-covering and physical-distancing bylaws. A small handful of businesses have been reported each week to have been charged under COVID-19 regulations and bylaws. 

Those efforts now include the proof-of-vaccination requirement, which amended the Reopening Ontario Act. According to the city, failure to comply can result in fines of $750 for individuals or $1,000 for corporations. 

With the regulation new this week, it's unclear how many businesses, if any, have violated the proof-of-vaccination rules, but van Heerden said bylaw officers "will be proactively and reactively engaging in progressive enforcement, providing education and explaining the new regulations to business owners and patrons."

When CBC Hamilton visited Bistro Vie later Thursday, two unmasked staff members inside declined to answer if the restaurant was enforcing the proof-of-vaccination requirement. They also said they were exempt from wearing masks.

"I don't want to clarify with you," one of the staff members said. "I fully understand the question, we told you we have no comment."

Bruce Jones was eating food from Bistro Vie outside. It was his first time eating there.

"I'm actually surprised they're not wearing masks because they seem to be a health-conscious place with the kind of food they serve," he said.

"Especially with the virulency of the delta variant, indoors with strangers, we all need to wear masks or this thing is going to continue to ramp up in Ontario ... I think a business should be obliged to reveal their policy."