Posted at 7:00 a.m.
A vast majority of merchants operating large areas are “fed up” with the vaccine passport, which only attracts the wrath of dissatisfied, sometimes aggressive customers, while reducing attendance and sales, they testify. Some have even reduced their commercial space so that they no longer have to ask consumers to show their credentials.
Since January 24, stores with an area of more than 1,500 square meters, except supermarkets and pharmacies, must comply with this rule. However, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, hinted on Friday that the vaccine passport could be suspended in “a few weeks”, at the same time as the various trade associations are pressuring the government to tells them when this measure will end.
“Will Public Health recommend that we, hopefully in a few weeks, say that we can suspend it because it is better? But could we restore it if we were ever caught with another wave? That’s what you have to think about, ”explained Mr. Dubé, during a period of interpellation held in the Blue Room of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, at the doors of the shops, the exasperation is palpable, according to the traders interviewed. “The shouting matches, people we have to force out, people who come in purposely not to show their vaccination passport”, this is how Paul-André Goulet, owner of 10 Sports Experts stores, describes scenes experienced in its businesses since January 24.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, ARCHIVES SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Paul-André Goulet, owner of 10 Sports Experts stores
What are we doing ? Do we stop them, or do we let them continue? This is not obvious. It’s as if we were asked to treat people who do not present the vaccination passport like thieves and take them out of the store.
Paul-André Goulet, owner of 10 Sports Experts stores
Mr. Goulet even hired security guards to try to calm possible excesses. In an open letter sent on Wednesday, representatives of the Quebec Retail Council (CQCD), the Retail Council of Canada (RCCC) and the Quebec Hardware and Building Materials Association (AQMAT) maintained that the vaccination passport had become a source of conflict.
“Trademarks are dragged through the mud on social networks, some will be permanently, we wrote. Some storefronts were vandalized, equipment smashed, employees pushed and beaten, and customers kicked out of stores. The retailer has become an easy target for part of the population frustrated by health measures. We no longer count the number of employees who no longer want to be placed at the door of businesses; the stress level is palpable and absences from work are increasing. »
Fewer customers in store
In this context, Paul-André Goulet adds that the measure has a direct effect on attendance. In Sept-Îles, on the North Shore, Dominic Larouche, general manager of the Lauremat hardware store, noted a drop in sales of around 20% to 25% in the days following the imposition of the vaccine passport. “It was drastic! “, he says.
The negative comments of those who decided to boycott his store generally came from people who had been doubly or triple vaccinated and still opposed the passport, because it was considered discriminatory, he maintains.
Faced with this drop and noting that his parking lot was practically deserted, which is not the case in normal times, Mr. Larouche condemned rows and certain counters of his store in order to reduce his sales area – normally by 1858 meters squares – so that it is less than 1500 square meters. He made the announcement on Lauremat’s Facebook page on February 8, drawing thanks and recognition.
I don’t have a promotion that got as much buzz as my message that I’m accepting everyone now. It’s only been positive since I’ve crossed out sections. It’s not funny: I cut products from customers, but they’re happy just because they can come.
Dominic Larouche, general manager of the Lauremat hardware store
In Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Christian Bélair, general manager of the Lortie et Martin hardware store, receives many calls from customers wanting to know if his business imposes the vaccination passport.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTIAN BÉLAIR
Christian Bélair, general manager of the Lortie et Martin hardware store
“Am I losing business [parce que je demande le passeport] ? I don’t know”, admits the one whose hardware store has an area of 5000 square meters. “I was threatened by people who told me that they were going to close their account with us,” he adds.
Mr. Bélair says he hopes that this measure will be lifted before spring, high season for hardware stores, because the queues are likely to lengthen. “It is the vaccinated people who will suffer. »
With the collaboration of Henri Ouellette-Vézina, The Press