'Simply not acceptable': Kelowna businesses react to 'surprise' mask mandate in parts of B.C. Interior
The B.C. chamber representing businesses in the Kelowna area says it was not consulted before a mask mandate aimed at reducing COVID-19 transmission was reinstated in the region.
Officials announced new measures for the Central Okanagan Wednesday as COVID-19 infections have risen in the area.
Dr. Sue Pollock, chief medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority, told CTV News 323 cases were identified in the Central Okanagan since the start of the month, and that 97 per cent of those infected were either partially vaccinated or not vaccinated.
As a result, a mask mandate was reissued for all public indoor spaces for Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country.
"We can appreciate that with rising cases of infection in the area that reinstating a mask mandate is warranted but the surprise announcement with absolutely no advance consultation with our organization or the business community is simply not acceptable,” said Dan Rogers, executive director of the Kelowna Chamber, in a news release after the announcement.
“Businesses are frustrated and tired of trying to keep track of what’s required of them when changes are frequent and occasionally appear arbitrary."
Rogers said the chamber had "pushed" for regional rules "a long time ago."
“Now when things are a concern in one small area in the Interior, the B.C. government doesn’t seem to have a problem with regional-based restrictions," Rogers said.
Provincial health officials had previously said that rules would be applied across the board, but that policy changed recently, when B.C. entered Step 3 of its restart plan.
"As we move out of the pandemic, we no longer need to take broad sector, societal, provincial measures to try and stem the transmission of this virus," Dr. Bonnie Henry explained Wednesday. "But we still need to take some measures in those areas where we're seeing high levels of transmission."
It doesn't appear the chamber has an issue with the mask mandate itself, however, saying it may reduce conflicts some businesses had faced with customers.
"The increased case rate is a concern and threatens to dim the light at the end of the tunnel,” Rogers said. "It is a good reminder that the pandemic virus is still out there, and we still need to be diligent in how we operate, and the government needs to do more to encourage those who haven’t been vaccinated to pick up the pace."
But the chamber did seem to take issue with the province's recommendation that people avoid non-essential travel into and out of the Kelowna region if they're not fully vaccinated, saying it's encouraging health authorities "to focus their efforts more on 'how people behave' rather than where they're from."
The mask mandate went into effect at midnight Thursday. Bars, restaurants, gyms, casinos and nightclubs are all allowed to remain open, but must have safety measures in place including mandatory masks and not allowing guests to socialize between tables.
Officials are also recommending that gatherings – especially large ones – be held outdoors instead of indoors.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.