BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO), Dr.Bonnie Henry announced she won’t be mandating masks in the province at this time.

This means that PG business owners will remain responsible for governing mask usage in their stores.

“The largest impact that we’ve seen is customers who are angry about the fact that they have to wear a mask when they enter a store,” explained CEO of the PG Chamber of Commerce, Todd Corrigall.

Overall, small business customers have been understanding of the rules, however, those who dispute the requirements just make it more difficult for small businesses to operate in PG.

“Without the PHO coming out with a strongly worded message making masks mandatory in any indoor spaces and businesses as they’ve done across the country it sends the wrong message,” said Corrigall.

Henry backed up her decision explaining that it would have a heavy impact on groups like the homeless population.

However, Corrigall explained that this move puts more stress on Prince George’s small business owners.

“We heard from businesses owners before her announcement that they were hopeful that the PHO was going to mandate that anyone entering stores or indoor spaces was required to wear a mask, especially going into the Holiday season,” he noted.

According to Corrigall, it is important for people to understand that businesses are private property and owners can set rules as they see fit.

“You see ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service’ signs in a lot of businesses and this is the exact type of situation,” he added.