Lambda Cabaret was ordered to close yesterday (Wednesday) after it opened it’s doors over the weekend in defiance of public health orders.
“The most recent enforcement action, and it’s been listed on our website, is a closure order that was issued yesterday, and it is around compliance, or lack of compliance with the food and liquor serving premises order that is in place, and that is an order that requires bars and night clubs that do not offer full meal service to be closed at this time,” said Eryn Collins with Northern Health.
Collins noted that not everyone on the list that has received a warning was trying to defy orders, and that some establishments just weren’t aware of what restrictions are in place.
She added that this is why sometimes all that’s needed is a bit of education.
“It is a progressive enforcement approach that is taken with respect to enforcement of the public health orders. And that can range from simple education, up to warning letters, tickets, closure orders.”
According to the BC Government website, the more extreme cases could result in a $10,000 fine and possible jail time.
It’s also not just Northern Health that is able to issue violation tickets, they can be issued by:
- Police officers
- Community safety unit
- Liquor and cannabis inspectors
- Gaming investigators
- Conservation officers
Lambda Cabaret was issued a warning letter back in September, but that was for a different issue.
“There was a previous warning letter issued for that establishment, but it was back in September of last year, and it was regarding compliance with the need for proof of vaccination and masks in public places. Those were the applicable PHO orders at that time.”
Dr Bonnie Henry addressed the issue yesterday as well, noting that she understands why people are lashing out.
“When you see those types of things, and people acting out, trying to make their point in their own limited way. I understand why people do that. It can be frustrating, it’s hard to go through this.”
“But really what we need to do is understand that it is all our collective actions that are getting us through this, and that make that basically a slap in the face to some of the healthcare workers that have been working so hard for so long,” added Henry.