With the province害羞草研究所檚 announcement that proof of vaccination will be needed to access non-essential services, local businesses are taking the brunt of people害羞草研究所檚 frustration.

Recently, an Instagram account surfaced called discriminatorybusinessesbc, where businesses in B.C. that will require proof of vaccination from patrons are publicly shamed. Followers are being asked to boycott businesses profiled on the account.

Kelowna restaurant Frankie We Salute You was recently profiled by the account, alleging the restaurant supports 害羞草研究所渟egregation.害羞草研究所�

Owner Christina Skinner said it all started when plans for the vaccine card were announced on Aug. 30.

害羞草研究所淲e started receiving inquiries from people asking about what our status (on the card) would be and saying if we were choosing to follow the mandate, they would boycott us and encouraged others to do the same,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 an interesting choice of words. 害羞草研究所楥hoosing to follow the mandate害羞草研究所�? It害羞草研究所檚 not like businesses have much of a choice on the matter.害羞草研究所�

Skinner said instead of ignoring the threat, they decided to respond.

害羞草研究所淲e said we don害羞草研究所檛 actually know what the mandate will entail. We don害羞草研究所檛 know what the expectations are, how it will work.

害羞草研究所淩ather than understanding the situation, they chose to accept that we would be 害羞草研究所榮upporting the mandate害羞草研究所� and they chose to boycott us, shame us on social media by saying we害羞草研究所檙e supporting discrimination.害羞草研究所�

She said this isn害羞草研究所檛 the first time boycotts and threats have happened at Frankie害羞草研究所檚, either, with the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 staff being harassed before by anti-maskers.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very small percent of the population, but they害羞草研究所檝e just made my staff害羞草研究所檚 quality of life miserable. My staff have been insulted and threatened and even if that just happens to someone once a week, that害羞草研究所檚 still a lot. It害羞草研究所檚 exhausting,害羞草研究所� she said.

But just like the community rallied around them when Frankie害羞草研究所檚 was targeted by anti-maskers, Skinner said they have received an outpouring of support recently too.

In the end, she said asking if businesses are 害羞草研究所渇ollowing the mandate害羞草研究所� is not the question to ask.

害羞草研究所淚f there害羞草研究所檚 a problem with the government mandate, then take it to your vote. Instead of punishing small businesses, we should ask 害羞草研究所榃hat am I doing to support businesses, what am I doing to support health care workers and what am I doing to take care of the sick and the elderly?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor condemns anti-vax card protest at hospital

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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