Some businesses worried, frustrated as Ontario's vaccine passport rolls out

Some businesses and restaurants in Waterloo region say they're worried, confused and frustrated as Ontario's vaccine passport mandate comes into effect Wednesday.

"There's a lot of businesses that have been surviving off subsidies and and it all ends very soon, and suddenly they'll be in a position where they can't afford to lose sales and customers," said Aura Hertzog, owner and operator of Ambrosia Corner Bakery in Kitchener.

"It's a hard spot for businesses to be in right now. There is confusion and it's hard to see the businesses that are just trying to survive."

Hertzog said she was able to pivot to curbside and outdoor dining with limited indoor dining and retail during the pandemic, but she worries about what will happen on Wednesday. 

"Especially when there's people now saying that they will stop supporting [businesses] if they enforce or just follow mandate, and there's fines associated with this mandate," she said.

Hertzog is also worried businesses will be targeted and harassed.

Last week, the province outlined its guidelines for businesses required to make the checks. Patrons at dine-in restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, sports facilities and other venues must present a receipt of full vaccination and identification. Doctors' notes for medical exemptions will also be accepted.

Fines are on the table for businesses that don't comply with the checks and for patrons who give false information. But businesses, bylaw officers, police forces and the government say enforcement will be gentle until the policy's impact starts to play out on the ground — with much of the heavy lifting falling to front-line staff at businesses.

Fitz Vanderpool of Whip Boxing Academy in Waterloo said Wednesday's rollout will be "tough," and is also worried and frustrated.

"It's going to be hard," he said.

"Having been shut down on and off, and now we're finally open, to have people come in and now we have to tell them they have to have this passport, it could be tough for our business."

He said they are still working on how they will implement the new mandate on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hertzog said, it will be a shared role among staff.

Chamber of Commerce to continue support

Local businesses and restaurants will continue to receive support from the region's Chamber of Commerce once the province's vaccine passport mandate comes into effect.

Ian McLean, president and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (GKWCC), said they and the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce will continue to advocate for any additional supports businesses and restaurants will need during the passport rollout.

He said the chambers will provide sessions on how businesses can navigate the implementation of the passport, as well as what to do if customers don't comply with the new mandate, adding that businesses and restaurants will have to rely on the community "to do the right thing".

"We're going to have some session that both the chambers are going to do, is how to deal with people if you find resistance, but we encourage folks ... if someone is being violent, is to contact the police and not try to deal with it yourself," he said during a media briefing Friday.

"The fact is that we will have to rely on the community doing the right thing."

McLean said the chambers are also calling on the province to make the vaccine passport app available sooner to make the process easier for customers and businesses.