The owner of a popular Ontario restaurant whose liquor license was suspended for failing to verify vaccination status said she didn’t want to come across as rebellious, but thinks she doesn’t have to ask for the medical information of its clients.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said in a statement Friday that it had suspended and was preparing to revoke the liquor license of Wild wing in Belleville, Ontario.
AGCO said on September 29, compliance officers spoke to the alcohol licensee at the Wild Wing site, who allegedly told them she was not checking vaccine status or needing to face masks inside.
Compliance officers followed up twice in October and continued to observe instances of non-compliance, AGCO said.
AGCO returned on November 9 and said he “observed several unmasked clients entering and exiting the facility and vaccine confirmation and identification had not been verified.”
“The director said his staff do not request vaccination confirmation or identification from clients,” AGCO said.
Speaking to CTV News Toronto on Friday, Wing Wild franchise owner Jackie Banas said it’s not about being ‘anti-COVID or rebellious’, but respecting people’s private medical information .
Banas said she believed that asking for proof of vaccination for COVID-19 was a “slippery slope” that violated her client’s rights.
“We are not asking for vaccine passports so if you are uncomfortable do not come in,” she said.
Banas said there was a sign posted outside the restaurant, which informs customers that immunization status will not be checked. She also said that customers or staff who do not wear masks will not be interviewed.
She said she “does her best” to make everyone feel welcome at the restaurant.
“It’s really up to each individual to know what is right for them,” she said.
Banas said losing her liquor license did not concern her because the majority of her sales did not come from alcohol.
“People can buy alcohol anywhere, but they can’t take our wings somewhere else, so I don’t see that being too much of a problem,” she said. “People will always come to eat.”
As part of the Ontario government’s plan to reopen, proof of vaccination will be required until at least January in many non-essential settings.
AGCO said it was in “the public interest to immediately suspend the liquor license of Wild Wing Belleville.”
CTV News Toronto attempted to contact Wild Wing headquarters, but no one was available for comment.
As part of the Ontario government’s plan to reopen, proof of vaccination will be required until at least January in many non-essential settings.
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