Local businesses say they’ll defy public health orders

Owner Jayson Borthwick says he will continue to keep his restaurant open to in-person dining despite an order from the province saying they must close Friday at noon.

Borthwick says he has 20 employees that need their job and he fears going bankrupt if he closes

“I’ve been here six weeks now, interacting with all kinds of people,” Borthwick said. “My restaurant is full every day, none of my staff have been sick and I’ve never been sick.”

Premier Jason Kenney says the new public health restrictions are needed to deal with a sharp increase in variant cases.

Kenney predicted 1,000 Albertans could be in hospital by the end of the month.

When asked about the possibility of our health-care system being overwhelmed, Borthwick said “I’m done” and walked away from the interview.

J Rocks isn’t the only restaurant planning on staying open.

Gaming Kingdom Cafe posted on Facebook it won’t be closing and Lela’s Place the Chocolate Shop is considering staying open for dine-in service.

UCP MLAs are also opposing the new restrictions.

Medicine Hat MLAs Drew Barnes and Michaela Glasgo are among 15 who signed a statement calling the new restrictions “a move backwards.”

They want to see a plan that provides certainty for Alberta families, communities and businesses

Barnes stopped short of supporting those who defy public health orders.

“I would ask everybody to follow the rules,” Barnes said. “I will do everything I can to help get the rules moved to more freedom and more opportunity for small businesses.”

NDP MLA Dave Shepherd is calling on the premier to take immediate action against the MLAs who are speaking out against the restrictions.

“When we’re seeing 1,000 or more new cases a day and rapid growth of deadly variant cases, it is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous for elected officials to be campaigning against the public health measures that will keep Albertans safe,” Shepherd said.

CHAT News reached out to Alberta Health Services who sent a statement saying while this has been a long pandemic, all public health orders are mandatory and legally enforceable.

The statement says “Any police agency or public health inspector is empowered to take enforcement action against individuals or businesses not complying with public health orders.”

All individuals including owners, workers, volunteers and patrons violating public health others could be fined up to $1000.

A person could be prosecuted up to $100,000 a first offense.

by Teagan Rasche

Local businesses say they’ll defy public health orders

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