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Businesses frustrated with exemption program

Okotoks business owners say the Province should mandate the program rather than putting them in a compromising position with customers
NEWS-Dawn LeMaistre BWC 3700 web
Dawn LeMaistre Okotoks Chamber of Commerce executive director, said it will work with businesses in regards to understanding the latest COVID restrictions and the restriction exemption program,

Okotoks business owners are frustrated with having the onus put on them to screen customers or operate under restriction.

“I think it’s completely unfair they would put the onus on the businesses to make the decisions,” said Kristen Laurie, owner of White Bull Clothing Co. “I think it’s too controversial a subject to put on businesses.”

Her store will not be following the restriction exemption program, and will instead reduce capacity to five people in the store at a time, with masking “kindly requested” for the comfort of customers.

Health decisions like wearing a mask or receiving a vaccine are personal choices, and business owners should not be put in a position to ask for personal health information, she said.

“If you (the Province) want to make it mandatory, make it mandatory – you take the blow-back,” said Laurie.

She said she respects the choices of any business owners who feel the need to follow the restriction exemption or not, based on what’s best for their operations, their customers and staff.

It’s people's  livelihoods at stake, she said.

“I’m seeing lots of people saying they’re not going to support someone who’s asking for vaccines, but that’s your own decision,” said Laurie. “These people are probably doing it just because they’re trying to put food on the table and provide for their employees.”

Hussain Akbar, chief operating officer of Motion Fitness in Okotoks, said the partners of the club tried to make the best decision for all eight gyms they own across Alberta and Saskatchewan. They opted to implement the REP in Alberta facilities.

Making that choice was no easy feat, he said.

“It’s been a tough couple of years, and this is a very important decision for the company moving forward," said Akbar. "It's a very tough call, and a lot of people don't like it, I understand that, but I've had to make the decision - I don't want to be in the grey."

Following the restriction exemption program, Motion Fitness can continue operating without restrictions - no masks required and group classes are able to continue.

"It opens us right up," said Akbar. "But I know I'll have an exodus of people who feel they don't need the vaccine, but that's a decision I have to make."

He said if they had decided to operate at one-third capacity, requiring masks and cancelling group classes, which was the alternative for fitness facilities, some of the vaccinated people might have left as well for somewhere without restrictions.

Implementing the REP is not a popular choice, but he said it was the better of two difficult options. It's also in keeping with other facilities, including GoodLife Fitness, Anytime Fitness and YMCA, he said.

"The passport might only last three months or four, I'm not sure, and that's what I'm hoping for and then everyone can be back," said Akbar. "I don't think it's a permanent thing."

Dawn LeMaistre, executive director for the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce, said an emergent board meeting was held to discuss how the chamber could best support local business in light of the announcements made Sept. 15.

“We’re trying to figure out what the best path is and help decipher what the new restrictions and potential protocols look like,” said LeMaistre.

Business owners are calling out for resources, which the Province is not prepared to provide, she said. That includes posters indicating what the new regulations are in a facility depending on whether they are following the exemption program.

“They’re kind of looking for the same content that they received when we first went to the masking, six feet apart, that whole thing,” said LeMaistre. “There was a lot of standard posters and visuals people had, and we don’t have anything.”

Across the community business owners seem to be split 50-50 on the decision to follow the program or not, she said. They are also split 50-50 with their patrons – half could stop frequenting the business if they require proof of vaccination, and half may decide not to visit if the protocols aren’t followed.

“It’s a nasty catch-22 for them, unfortunately,” said LeMaistre.

To help the best way they can, the Chamber is providing rapid-testing kits to its members who apply, for staff purposes. They would not be available for customers.

“If they have staff members who were unvaccinated or potentially symptomatic staff members, they could have access as a chamber member to complementary rapid testing kits, to be able to keep their staff working,” said LeMaistre.

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