A Canadian restaurant was forced to temporarily close its dining room after health officials found guests were allowed to use pictures of dogs from their cell phones instead of proof of vaccination to gain entry to indoor dining.
The Granary Kitchen in Red Deer, Alberta, was forced to close after officials from the Alberta Health Serves received complaints and conducted an investigation.
The province’s Restrictions Exemption Program requires business owners to either require proof of vaccination for guests 12 years old and over, or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, in addition to mandatory masking.
“During the investigation, the health department sent two test shoppers at different times and both were able to enter and dine in after showing a photo of a dog and personal identification, in lieu of meeting requirements, the health agency said,” CNN reported.
After reports were made to the Alberta Health Services, “the complaints were validated by two test shoppers as they were both able to enter and dine-in at the above-noted establishment after presenting a photograph of a dog,” the order said that was delivered to Patrick Malkin and Rachael Willie, the owners of The Granary Kitchen.
The order directed the owners of The Granary Kitchen to immediately close the restaurant’s indoor dining area, submit a written plan and commitment to implement a restrictions exemption program, provide all staff training on how to implement the restrictions exemption program, give written confirmation that all staff are trained and understand the implementation requirements of the restrictions exemption program, and attend an administrative hearing with Environmental Public Health, according to the order.
The restaurant took to Facebook to explain the situation.
To our valued guests, we had an unfortunate circumstance at our front door which involved one of our underage hostesses, and the requirements for the REP program. We are taking the weekend to retrain and regroup. We look forward to serving you again as soon as we are ready to reopen. In closing we would like to remind everyone of the tremendous pressure being placed on front staff, and please remember to be kind.
We will be offering free coffee for all phone in togo orders this weekend.
The order is now considered inactive but revealed the strong enforcement of vaccine mandates in the Canadian province.
The Granary Kitchen describes itself on its website as, “One of Very few Red Deer Restaurants in the area that caters to Locally Sourced and Sustainable Alberta Ingredients. The Simply designed space is filled with natural light during the day and at dinner the ambiance is sophisticated, yet relaxed. The menus and features change regularly, and that is just one of the many reasons that locals and tourists alike return time and again.”
Canada continues to enforce and propose strong restrictions against its unvaccinated citizens. Earlier this month, The Daily Wire reported that Quebec residents who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccination will be forced to pay a “significant” financial penalty, Premier Francois Legault said:
The fee would be the first of its kind in Canada and would apply to adult residents lacking a medical exemption.
Legault said about 10% of adults in Quebec are unvaccinated, but they represent about 50% of intensive care patients.
“Those who refuse to get their first doses in the coming weeks will have to pay a new health contribution,” Legault said, according to the Associated Press.
“The majority are asking that there be consequences. … It’s a question of fairness for the 90% of the population that have made some sacrifices. We owe them,” he added.