Vax ID checks fall to community centres

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This article was published 30/10/2021 (1806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WITH immunization cards required for adults just to enter city-owned rinks, concerns have emerged over who is responsible for checking them at the door.

Bruce Talling, president of the Transcona East End Community Club, doesn’t oppose the fact all adults must display proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, along with their ID, to gain entry into city-owned arenas.

Talling is concerned, however, the city is leaving community centre operators, along with those who rent out city-run rinks, responsible to check the cards instead of assigning that task to city staff.

“They’re just passing the buck on to the renter, which is just not right,” he said.

Talling said that’s come at a hefty cost for his community club, which has spent thousands on extra staff to monitor entrances.

At rinks owned and operated by the City of Winnipeg, teams and other groups that rent the space will be required to check the cards, the city confirmed. Talling said entrances at both types of facilities should instead by monitored by the city.

“Why would you put the onus on a coach to have to check parents coming in? It’s so unfair on that end and the community club end. Some of these community clubs are really suffering. If we go into shutdown again, we’ll probably just take out our ice,” he said.

Coun. Shawn Nason also opposes the policy, stating it amounts to “offloading” a city responsibility.

“If it’s a matter of having staff there, that should be built into the rates that we charge for renting. If it’s about ensuring protection (against COVID-19) having the staff there that own the facility, they (would) be taking the pressure off volunteers,” said Nason. “We have a hard enough time getting volunteers to coach, to organize our amateur sports and recreational sports. This, to me, presents another barrier to that.”

In an emailed statement, a city spokesperson said “permit holders” learned they are responsible for confirming proof of immunization at such facilities in September, while community centres independently control their own operations.

Spokesperson David Driedger indicated the city will ensure the rules are followed.

“The city will be performing audits of all arena permit holders to confirm receipt, understanding, and demonstrated preparedness of the requirement of permit holders to ensure proof of vaccination. If the audit is not successful, or non-compliance occurs, permits may not be granted or continued access to arenas suspended temporarily or permanently. Fines may also be issued,” said Driedger.

The statement did not directly respond to the complaint the policy offloads a city responsibility.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga