The owner of the bakery ‘Bake My Day’ in Beaumont is refusing to ask for proof of vaccination, saying she’d rather go out of business than ask for people’s private health information.
“I refuse to ask for the vaccine passports. It’s not any of my business,” said Jen Foster in an interview with CTV News Edmonton.
According to Foster, her staff have been “harassed” by the Alberta Health Service (AHS). Moreover, the AHS has posted warnings on her door and went as far as suspending the bakery’s food handling permit on October 8.
Foster remains steadfast, totally unfazed.
“I’ll let my business go out of business before I ask for somebody’s vaccination records,” she said.
“Everything in me just said that this is absolutely wrong because we all know that vaccinated people can still get COVID, can still pass it along.”
Despite having her business being technically ‘closed’ due to the permit suspension, Albertans are still happily buying from Bake My Day — albeit through takeout, delivery, and pickup.
“I’m trying to support my fellow small business person, and I feel like it’s OK to be open right now to everyone,” said customer Kathy Austin.
“I’m really happy that they’re open and that they’ve decided to not exclude anyone.”
Nonetheless, even if Foster has managed to survive, she says the AHS’s massive overreach and enforcement powers are a major source of stress.
“It’s stressing everybody out,” said Foster. “No matter which way you go with this, small businesses aren’t winning. We’re not coming out on top.”
