While the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé announced Thursday that businesses considered non-essential – whose list is not yet known – should possibly require the vaccination passport to let their customers enter, the groups that represent them are literally asking to Quebec to find other measures, or even to step back, because of the enormous difficulties that the implementation of such a rule represents.
Winter boots for children, are they considered an essential good? Will supermarkets that sell both food, clothing and toys have to block access to certain aisles for the unvaccinated or will they exercise control at the cash register?
All these questions remain unanswered for Michel Rochette, president for Quebec of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), who considers the exercise rather “perilous”. At a press briefing, Minister Dubé announced that access to branches of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) and the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) will be prohibited to unvaccinated people from January 18. Later this week, he will give more details regarding non-essential businesses.
“It is never completely clear what is essential and what is not,” emphasizes Mr. Rochette. Obviously, the Minister himself mentioned it, grocery stores and pharmacies (are essential businesses) but it is always difficult when one enters this universe. There are businesses that sell both essentials and what we call non-essentials, where do you draw the line? We are not talking about closure, we are talking about the management of a passport for certain products and not for others. ”
“If the goal is to tighten the screws on the unvaccinated, there may be other scenarios than asking employees in the shops to handle the problem cases,” he adds. We would like the government to consider other ways of putting its finger where it is needed. If his goal is to force vaccination, let him go in that direction. ”
On the side of the Quebec Retail Council (CQCD), the Director General, Jean-Guy Côté directly asks Quebec to reverse its decision. “We ask the government not to consider the establishment of the compulsory vaccination passport in non-essential businesses,” he said in a statement. The vaccination passport obligation is difficult to apply, or even impossible to set up for some businesses. This measure can negatively impact the daily activities of retailers and lead to reduced traffic. Already affected by labor issues, with more than 25,000 positions to be filled in the sector in Quebec, adding this burden to Quebec retailers would be too heavy. ”
As for hardware stores, the Quebec Association of Hardware and Construction Materials (AQMAT) said it wanted the members it represents to be on the list of essential businesses. “Since since day one of the fight against the pandemic, which dates back to March 2020, the government’s posture has always been consistent by placing the trio of grocery stores / pharmacies / hardware stores in the peloton of establishments that citizens cannot do without, we are confident that nothing will change for our sector of activity, ”mentioned the President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Darveau in a newsletter.
In the fog
For their part, the traders interviewed had few details to provide concerning the application of this new rule and are waiting for the government to give more details.
At Loblaws, where the consumer can get both milk and mittens, there was little answer to provide regarding the line to be drawn between the essential and the non-essential and they said they expected “clearer instructions.” ”
Same story with Groupe Mach, owner of Carrefour de l’Estrie. Should the check take place at the entrance to shopping centers or in front of each store? “We do not yet have enough details to position ourselves, to know how we will (implement) this requirement,” said Daniel Durand, senior director, marketing and communications.
Louis Dessureault, vice-president of operations of the Marie Claire Group (Claire France, Marie Claire, San Francisco, Grenier, Dans un jardin) also had few comments to make. He must first discuss with his team.
Hairdressing salons
Hairdressing salons will also have to require the vaccination passport of clients wishing to have their hair cut. This announcement received a mixed reception, according to the Association coiffure Quebec. The president, Stéphane Roy, also owner of five Oblic salons, says he spoke Thursday to several colleagues who feel “held hostage” by a government that wants to convince the unvaccinated to raise their sleeve. According to him, hairdressing salons are not hatching places. “It will require additional tasks from us,” he says, adding in the process that he will comply with the new public health rules.
At the SAQ, spokesperson Linda Bouchard assures us that “teams are working on setting up a protocol to apply this measure to the entire network on January 18”. Regarding the possibility that unvaccinated wine and spirits enthusiasts flocked to branches before the deadline, Mr.me Bouchard affirms not to have noted “any particular movement at the level of the ridership”.