Business group advocates for COVID-19 vaccine passport in Sask.
As COVID-19 cases rise across Saskatchewan, some business groups and small business owners are voicing support for vaccination passports.
Lynn Armstrong is a Regina business owner who maintains measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She now does business primarily by appointment and still records customer names for contact tracing.
“I don’t feel that we have come out of it yet. I don’t think we have enough of an economic recovery plan,” said Armstrong, who owns Zoe Shoes.
The group that represents small business in Canada is calling on government to have a plan to prevent another lockdown. The Canadian Federation of Business said it believes vaccine passports should be a part of it.
“The majority or thereabouts of Saskatchewan small business owners support using mandatory vaccinations to participate in those larger or more at risk events, like large public gatherings or international travel,” said Jonathan Alward, prairie director with Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) would include mandatory vaccines for health care workers.
“You still need to be respectful and have discussions around that, but if there’s not medical reasons, it’s not a lot that would trump the safety aspect when one works with the vulnerable population,” said Dr. Eben Strydom, president of the SMA.
Armstrong said she has been giving COVID-19 prevention a lot of thought.
“We can’t do another lockdown, and I feel I have done my part in maintaining my business as a safe place and I think other small business owners have done that, too. I don’t think that we should be punished for other decisions that are related to huge gatherings.”
The Saskatchewan government’s position remains unchanged. It encourages health care workers to get vaccinated but isn’t going to force the issue and it rules out a provincial vaccine passport.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.