Enforcement action being taken in Medicine Hat

Enforcement action has been taken against a local restaurant that has been publicly defying public health orders.

AHS released a statement Tuesday morning confirming that it has suspended the food handling permit issued to J-Rocks Bar and Grill.

“On May 10, 2021 Alberta Health Services (AHS) suspended the food handling permit of the operator at the J Rocks Bar and Grill in response to ongoing blatant noncompliance with Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s (CMOH) restrictions and also requirements under Alberta’s Public Health Act. Under Alberta’s provincial Food Regulation it is unlawful to prepare and serve food without a food permit.”

J-Rocks Bar and Grill refused to stop offering in-person dining when the provincial government ordered restaurants to shift to take out and delivery only back on April 6th.

The owner of J-Rocks was very public on social media and according to posts there was live music and dancing happening on some nights in addition to in-person dining.

AHS issued a closure order on April 22nd but the restaurant continued not to follow the public health restrictions.

Chief Worden says businesses with suspended licenses can’t serve food. He says the new injunction allows police to act faster.

“Any time you take enforcement activity you had to get court approval,” Worden said. “You have to go through certain levels of approval and it was taking weeks and weeks. So this had sped some of this up. So it does allow us to address some of these things more quickly.”

Worden says J-Rocks is now abiding by restrictions. He says no other businesses in the city are defying public health orders right now.

by Teagan Rasche

Enforcement action being taken in Medicine Hat

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