Burlington mayor says bylaw will enforce vaccine passports
Published September 9, 2021 at 11:18 am
Bylaw officers who some say are already overstretched with pandemic-related responsibilities will be tasked with enforcing rules surrounding vaccine passports in Burlington, the mayor says.
Businesses in Burlington began expressing interest in vaccine passports before the provincial government’s announcement that the documents will be a necessity to enter ‘non-essential’ establishments such as gyms and restaurants later this month. The news may come as a relief to some, but it has caused some confusion around enforcement.
According to Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, bylaw officers will be responsible for enforcement.
“In terms of enforcement, we have been advised that bylaw is the ultimate enforcement and I’m hoping we won’t need enforcement,” Ward said during an interview with inHalton.com.
The mayor noted that the provincial government has placed the responsibility onto bylaw officers despite them being overwhelmed due to the pandemic.
“They set policies, which is great, but then we have to pick up the tab – enforcement at a time when our bylaw officers are already stretched with a whole host of COVID and other issues as well.”
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Meed is hopeful that most of the population will be compliant with the new passport system which will commence on Sept. 22.
Meed encourages those who are yet to receive a vaccination to do so and sends the following message to those that refuse one: Don’t go out.
“There’s options, curbside, takeout, or delivery. There’s other ways to get your services that have evolved over the course of this pandemic for a number of months…if you do not wish to be vaccinated. But you don’t have the right to put other people at risk, or compromise the business trying to keep their staff and their patrons safe.”
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