Hospitality representatives in Vancouver are livid at the city’s new public patio guidelines, which owners and managers say will cost thousands to already hurting businesses..Obtaining approval for a mere six square metres of patio will cost small businesses at least $5,000 under the new 34-page guideline..“As we look to reinvigorate our downtown and support these small businesses that have struggled to keep their doors open during the last two years, we are incredibly disappointed by the extra fees hoisted upon small businesses,” said Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA)..The association sent out a joint press release in unison with the BC Craft Brewers Guild slamming the new policy for adding red tape to restaurants and breweries looking to keep public patio space open..Representatives say the additional hurdles imposed by the review process will create such significant delays that people will have a hard time finding an outdoor patio this summer..The new policy is meant to ratify the Temporary Expedited Patio Program created in the early days of COVID-19 to allow sidewalk patios. About 700 patios were using street and curbside space in 2021..The hospitality industry is one of many impacted by provincially instituted mandates. Mandates which have been consistently supported by municipalities and regional health authorities since BC declared a state of emergency in March of 2020..Irrespective of provincial COVID-19 policies, Vancouver has a long history of its own bureaucratic mandates specifically targeting the hospitality industry. Therefore the newly announced patio guidelines come as little surprise to those who have been in the industry long enough..“The city has failed to deliver a streamlined process and our customers will not be able to enjoy local craft beer on a patio this summer due to red tape and regulations,” said Ken Beattie, executive director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild..As for unvaccinated Vancouver residents looking for patio beers, not much changes. Proof of vaccination against COVID is still required for seated liquor consumption within establishments, including patios. Patios with counter service that don’t serve alcohol are exempt from vaccine passports..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
