Port Hope Restaurant Owner Says “Intimidation Tactic” By Health Unit Won’t Work

In September, owner Dana Hubbard said she would not be asking customers for vaccine passports.

Hubbard told Today’s Northumberland that if customers wanted to show their passports she’d be happy to check them over, but she wasn’t going to force people to show their vaccine status.

It’s something that she was willing to take a ticket for – because she felt and still feels it’s the right thing to do.

To be fair, Hubbard has always been pro-vaccine, but checking the passport just took things to far.

On October 19, 2021, Hubbard had a visit by a Health Inspector with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit along with two Port Hope Police Officers.

It was shortly after her business opened for the day after 4 p.m.

The Inspector said the Health Unit received a complaint the business was not wearing masks, taking information or checking passports.

Hubbard was served with three tickets under the Provincial Reopening Act.

· Lack of compliance with masking and face coverings

· Lack of compliance with record contact information of every patron

· Lack of compliance with require each patron to provide proof of identification and of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Each charge carries a fine of $1,130.00.  If convicted of the three tickets the fine would be $3,390.00.

“They wear masks, everyone was spaced appropriately and we do check information,” said Hubbard on Friday, November 13, 2021.

The Health Inspector left moments later and the police officers asked if she had any questions.

“They advised me to turn over the tickets, and to choose Option 3which is essentially to appear in court and fight it.  The officer said, “get yourself a GoFundMe account and operate as normal.”

Hubbard said she wasn’t entirely surprised she got the tickets.

“I still right what we’re doing.”

Since stating she wouldn’t be asking for vaccine passports Hubbard said she’s received lots of support.

“Very positive, overwhelmingly so.”

“We’ve lost a few regulars, but gained a whole new family and it’s really nice to have the support.”

Hubbard said she will be fighting each one of the tickets in court.

But Hubbard said what happened last week feels like an “intimidation tactic.”

She was served a letter on Friday, November 12, 2021 from the Health Unit with the subject line “Hindering or Obstructing a Public Health Inspector.”

The letter stated that Public Health Inspectors “attempted to conduct a food premises inspection” on Tuesday, November 9 but the letter states Hubbard “requested the Public Health Inspectors to leave the premises and to make an appointment to conduct an inspection.”

Hubbard said the Health Inspectors are more than welcome to come in and inspect anything in the premises, but given her business opens at 4 p.m. she requests the inspection to take place anytime between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“I’m trying to cap it not at dinner service hours because it’s complete confusion.  There is to much going on and we are already limited to how many people we can have due to COVID.  Having two extra bodies running around the restaurant doesn’t look good and it doesn’t work.”