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By Shane Clausing

BC vaccine cards

Questions remain for Dawson Creek mayor following B.C. vaccine card announcement

Aug 25, 2021 | 5:00 AM

Starting on September 13, all residents and visitors in British Columbia will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination in order to participate in certain events, services and businesses throughout the province.

The move comes as COVID-19 cases in B.C. surge, especially in the southern interior region of the province

Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead thinks B.C.’s new vaccination card system could lead to lots of confusion for businesses in his region.

“They’re (B.C. government) going to require proof of vaccination for ticketed events, or public facilities like restaurants. Obviously, the concern for me at the municipality level is the enforcement component to it,” Bumstead told EverythingGP.

“Who’s going to be responsible to enforce and how are they going to do that?”

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Bumstead adds he and the rest of Dawson Creek council found out about the vaccine cards during a council meeting earlier in the week, and that they are still dissecting what the city will have to do on their end.

“Right now, at the city, we’re going through the understanding of the new process and protocols we’ll have to follow. At the city we’ll have implications at the swimming pool and our events centre, so we’re just going through that right now.”

With vaccine cards being rolled out in the coming weeks, Bumstead says it is too early to tell what impact they will have on his community, considering the vaccination rate amongst residents since June 16 remains between 47 to 50 per cent, a similar rate compared to Grande Prairie.

Bumstead did say this just adds another hurdle for local businesses to deal with as they climb out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s such an unsettling time and it’s been such a polarizing topic for people,” he said. “For workers to be facing mandatory vaccinations in order to go to work and how our small business people are going to be dealing with the enforcement and monitoring of ensuring people that enter their businesses are vaccinated.”

READ MORE: B.C. to introduce vaccine card for activities, events, restaurants

“It’s just worrisome,” Bumstead adds. “It’s an unsettling time for us and a country that’s never been faced with anything but freedom and now all of these decisions are impacting people and their freedoms and that’s a worrisome time for folks.”