Calgary Chamber of Commerce slams Alberta’s move to cancel vaccine passport program – CBC

Calgary Chamber of Commerce issued a strongly worded statement Tuesday evening

Feb 08, 2022

A major business group has slammed the Alberta government’s decision to eliminate a proof-of-vaccine program, calling it “akin to ripping the Band-Aid off before the wound has healed.”

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce issued a strongly worded statement Tuesday evening, just hours after Premier Jason Kenney announced that businesses will no longer have to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination from patrons as of midnight.

Alberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program, or REP, was introduced last fall in an effort to curb spiking case rates and encourage vaccination. It requires Albertans to show proof of double vaccination or a negative rapid test result to obtain entry to businesses operating under the program.

The program is the first to go as part of the province’s three-step plan to lift public health restrictions.

“The restriction exemption program has served its useful purpose. It has done its job,” Kenney told a news conference.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chamber-of-commerce-alberta-vaccine-passport-covid-1.6344564