Corduroy restaurant ordered to close for defying proof-of-vaccination rules
A restaurant in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood has once again been ordered to close for openly defying the province's COVID-19 rules.
The city suspended Corduroy's business licence on Wednesday, citing the establishment's ongoing refusal to follow masking rules or request proof-of-vaccination from patrons.
Owner Rebecca Matthews has been an outspoken critic of B.C.'s COVID-19 mitigation measures, calling the vaccine card system "illegal" and dismissing face-coverings as ineffective.
A recent post on the restaurant's Instagram page showed four men working in the kitchen, and none were wearing masks.
Matthews addressed the abrupt closure on social media Wednesday, indicating that she would be speaking with a lawyer.
"Obviously waiting for a bunch of calls and working on next steps, how to move forward. Legal counsel is a must at this point," she said.
But she also said Corduroy will comply with the closure, unlike Rolly's restaurant, a similarly defiant business in the Fraser Valley that's facing a possible court injunction for remaining open after losing its licence.
"I would love to do that," Matthews said, adding that doing so would "cloud the ultimate objective of them showing us the proof and validity of these claims against restaurants and gyms and this stuff."
Remaining open could also result in the business losing its licence for five years, according to the notice of business licence suspension served to the restaurant Wednesday.
Corduroy's licence was previously suspended back in April after it continued offering in-person dining in violation of a provincial order issued at the height of the third wave.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth addressed the escalating battle over vaccine passports in the province on Wednesday, noting that businesses that choose to ignore the rules will face consequences.
"Obviously we would expect the restaurant to abide by provincial health orders and check to ensure that people are vaccinated," Farnworth said. "These are provincial health orders, they are designed to keep people safe."
Rolly's was closed on Wednesday afternoon, with a sign on the door reading "Cannot open today – dealing with Fraser Health."
The district municipality of Hope had been fining the restaurant for every day it remained open, though the mayor said none of the fines have been paid so far. Farnworth said the restaurant owners won't be able to get their business licence or liquor licence re-instated while there are fines outstanding.
This week, the province applied for a B.C. Supreme Court injunction that would allow the RCMP to arrest and remove anyone who refuses to leave the restaurant.
The judge has already denied the government's request for an immediate injunction, as well as a request from Rolly's for a two-week adjournment. Instead, a ruling is expected Thursday afternoon on whether to grant an emergency interim injunction that could close the establishment while the application moves through the court.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Shannon Paterson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.