Some Ontario businesses believe vaccine passports will avoid them going bankrupt
The owner of a storied Toronto music venue says its revenues are a tenth of what they were before the pandemic — and a vaccine passport might be one way to stop live music venues from going bankrupt.
Jeff Cohen of The Horseshoe Tavern — where top acts have played for more than 70 years — says his and other venues are hoping the province implements a vaccine passport as one way to move on from the capacity limits of Stage 3 of Ontario's reopening plan.
"We're open to 11 per cent of our capacity," Cohen said. From a health perspective, maybe we shouldn't be at 100 per cent capacity, but 11 per cent is crazy. We're struggling."
"Staying in Stage 3 until February? You're going to see live music venues go bankrupt," he said.
The Horseshoe Tavern has an outdoor patio and tables inside that are spaced apart, he said. But it's hard to attract bands to play for a seated audience, and on top of that, many bands are not playing shows without vaccine passports, he said.
"It gives confidence to the ticket buyer, and it makes bands and staff feel good," he said. "If there are 300 bands in Toronto you have maybe 20 of them playing right now."
A vaccine passport would require someone to prove they have been vaccinated to enter non-essential venues such as restaurants and concert halls.
One has been implemented in Quebec, and will soon be a reality in Manitoba and B.C.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and PEI have implemented a standardized vaccination card, but have not attached it to any requirements to enter a venue.
Other Atlantic provinces and Ontario have no stated plans to implement vaccine passports, though sources say with an announcement this week, things could change.
In the meantime, an app gold rush has begun as different companies vie to be a provider for such a service.
Dr. Elaine Chin of Innovation Health Group is pitching its app as a solution to track multiple streams of vaccine data securely.
"No one is safe until all of us are safe and with the variants we need everyone to be vaccinated, and prove they're vaccinated to go indoors, as we go to the winter," she said.
Cohen said he wants to implement his own vaccine passport plan — but is also hoping to avoid the backlash and protests that have come to more outspoken venues.
"We'd like to see everyone do it at once," he said. "We don't want to be the guinea pig that steps forward but we do believe in it 100 per cent."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.