Quebec businesses want vaccine passport system to be simple, not a burden

Business owners say they are happy Quebec's vaccine-passport system will allow them to operate during potential COVID-19 outbreaks this fallbut they worry the health order will become burdensome and another source of conflict with clients.

The province has taken the lead in Canada on this issue, stating that in September, it will need people to prove they are vaccinated to enternon-essential businesses such as bars and gyms in parts of the province where COVID-19 transmission is high.

Gabriel Hardy, a gym owner and the Quebec spokesman for the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, says he's worried the passport system will become another hassle as his members try to recover from the pandemic.

"We had to deal with all the measures: distancing, limiting capacity, bookings, mandatory masks, managing anti-maskers,'' Hardy said in an interview Friday.

"We had to go through a lot of steps and deal with unsatisfied clients, and this one is just another (step).''

Francis Brub, policy analyst for the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says the proposed health order shows the government is serious about keeping the economy open if cases should rise.

"It's evident that if there's another lockdown, it's going to be catastrophic for certain businesses,'' Brub said in an interview Friday.

Quebec's government has provided vaccinated residents with a QR code as proof they received one or doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. People are also issued paper vaccinationrecords.

WATCH | Quebec Health MinisterChristian Dub announces vaccine passports:

Quebec to roll out vaccine passport if COVID-19 cases spike

3 years ago

Duration 2:04

Quebec may start using digital vaccination passports to bar people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from certain non-essential services as early as September, the province's health minister announced on Thursday.

And while the government hasn't yet released details about how the passport system would work, Brub said he expects to be consulted before it's implemented so he can offer advice on how to reduce the burden on businesses.

The proof-of-vaccination system, Brub added, must be simple because businesses are already managing a slew of COVID-19 health orders.

"Our job will be to ensure that this measure, if applied, remains simple and favourable to business owners." he said.

Despite his concerns, Hardy said he recognizes the passport system will help gyms operate amid a potential fourth wave.

Gyms, he added, were among the first places to close and among the last to reopen during the lockdowns.

"We saw how people were affected by lack of exercise, how anxiety levels rose because we weren't able to evacuate the stress,'' Brub said.

Hardy, however, is questioning how he will handle unvaccinated people who paid for yearly memberships and who will not be permitted to enter his gym during periods of high COVID-19 transmission.

"Are we supposed to tell our clients, who already paid, that they can't use our services?" Hardy asked.