6 Okanagan chambers of commerce call on B.C. to end vaccine mandates

In an open letter to B.C.’s top officials, the letter says there are real concerns if the restrictions aren’t lifted in the near future.

Six chambers of commerce in the Okanagan have penned an open letter to B.C.’s top officials, questioning why COVID-19 mandates are still in effect throughout the province.

“Every province in Canada, with the exception of British Columbia, has announced the lifting of mandates in place due to COVID-19,” reads the two-page letter that was released to the media on Tuesday.

The chambers are from Armstrong, Lake Country, Peachland, Penticton, Summerland and West Kelowna, and the letter addresses “some concerns regarding the mandates that have remained in place in B.C., and the effect this is having on local businesses, the economy and our communities.”

Addressed to Premier John Horgan, health minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the letter continues, saying “while we understand that each province has created and followed their own health guidelines, the lack of consistent scientific evidence amongst health authorities and scientists, both nationally and internationally, for the implementation of mandates and vaccine passports have instead resulted in detrimental harms to society.”

The letter also says the last two years have caused an incredible amount of instability, and that there are concerns if restrictions aren’t lifted in the near future.

Those concerns include:

That 10 per cent of B.C.’s population is unvaccinated, and that segment continues to be excluded from some parts of society, which leads to a financial hit.

The chambers estimated the financial hit at $1.4 billion, with monthly spending on restaurants ($300), entertainment ($200) and recreation and fitness ($100).