Chat News file photo

By Chantal Wagner

Still no answers why defying business remains open

Apr 30, 2021 | 5:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With COVID-19 case numbers showing no sign of slowing down in Alberta, the premier has put targeted restrictions in place for provincial hot spots.

He also stressed stricter enforcement for not following the rules including stronger fine collection and restrictions at registry services that could prevent some from renewing a driver’s license.

“These fines won’t affect the majority of folks who are following the rules and are doing their part to keep our community safe. Rather this is for the people who aren’t taking the pandemic seriously and continue to put others at risk by not following the public health orders in place,” Premier Jason Kenney said.

In Medicine Hat, a local restaurant on Box Springs Boulevard continues to not follow a public health order forcing restaurants to close indoor dining.

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The restaurant has been very vocal on social media about its decision to continue to serve customers and last weekend claimed to be offering live music.

Alberta Health Services issued a closure order on April 22, but as of Friday (Apr.30), the restaurant was still in operation.

Chat News has reached out to AHS multiple times over the past week to find out what, if any, action has been taken.

This statement is the only response we have received:

“Following the issuance of a closure order to cease dine-in services for J-Rocks Bar and Grill in Medicine Hat, Alberta Health Services’ Environmental Public Health and the operator are attempting to work together to ensure compliance with provincial public health orders from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health (CMOH). AHS will continue to uphold all current public health orders and restrictions, with the goal of protecting the public.”

The director of emergency management says the city is aware an order has been issued and they are in contact with AHS.

Merrick Brown says there is a partnership and it relates to enforcement measures.

“These businesses that are flouting the restrictions, they’re making it that much more difficult for everybody else,” Brown told Chat News.

In Vancouver, the mayor suspended the business license of a restaurant found in violation of public health orders.

Brown says suspension of a business license is not a strategy the city would be looking at right now because it is a very lengthy process and they are outside of the public health restrictions.

“Given the fact, there’s council approval, there’s a back and forth that has to take place between the business owner and the city in order for this to occur. And given the fact that there are public health orders designed specifically for this matter, we’re going to defer back to those public health orders which are ultimately designed for this situation,” he said.

The health minister’s office has also not responded to our requests for information.

With COVID-19 infections the highest they’ve ever been in medicine hat since the pandemic began, we also reached out to Mayor Ted Clugston.

He has refused to comment on the issue.

In the meantime, Brown says we have two options moving forward.

“We can either follow the restrictions and get through this within a couple of months or choose not to follow the restrictions and have no end in sight for this.”