Vaccine passport a ‘good idea,’ says Restaurants Canada VP

Luc Erjavec says as long as the passport’s rules remain clear, it can help save many businesses from failing during a fourth COVID wave

HALIFAXtoday \  Chris Stoodley

COVID-19 vaccine passports have been a hotly debated topic as of late, but a leader in the food service industry says the system is a “good idea” that could help save many local businesses from shuttering.

“The vaccine passport is one more tool in a tool chest that could be used to keep the industry open,”  Luc Erjavec, Restaurant Canada’s Atlantic vice president, says. “What we’re absolutely sure about is we do not want to see another shutdown. We have been devastated by the shutdown and we’re struggling to recover. If we’re shut down again, I don’t know how many more restaurants would close.

“If it’s something that can help us stay up and stay open, we’d like to see it.”

Erjavec told NEWS 95.7’s fill-in host Todd Veinotte that the vaccine passport would be a good idea since most business owners want to do everything possible to keep their staff and customers safe.

Last week, Nova Scotia Liberal leader Iain Rankin announced he would explore the idea of a vaccine passport called Scotiapass if his party is elected.

The vaccine certificate would allow people to show proof of immunization when dining at restaurants, shopping, visiting gyms and other businesses.

Vaccine passports have already been implemented in other parts of the world. Next month, Quebec will launch its vaccine passport system; some European countries, such as France, have also created vaccine passports.

It’s a concept that has already created some pushback from the public and the spark of some protests.

On Saturday, around 100 people gathered in downtown Halifax to protest a vaccine passport system. Also on that day, thousands of people in Montreal marched in protest of the province’s upcoming system.

However, COVID-19 vaccine mandates are coming across the country for Canadians in specific industries and certain public locations.

Erjavec says it’s a concept that should work well for businesses since it’s likely most business owners would rather choose a vaccine passport over shutting down due to another lockdown.

However, he says the rules revolving around the vaccine passport must be simple and clear to be effective.

“You either need it or you don’t need it,” he says. “This idea of, ‘Well, it’s recommended,’ what does that mean? It’s a slippery slope to mayhem.”

He says if they’re implemented, it’s also important that business owners don’t have the responsibility of choosing whether it’s mandatory.

Many business owners hate the idea of turning away customers, and refusing business because of a lack of a vaccine passport could prove difficult.

“My experience over the past year-and-a-half is Nova Scotia is always taking a cautious, prudent approach which has worked to some extent,” he says. “My sense is that if a fourth wave would happen … they would not hesitate to close us down if it got out of hand.”