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A survey of business owners in the Penticton area found that 71% of respondents are in favour of the B.C. Vaccine Card, similar to figures across the Thompson-Okanagan and Canada.

The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce conducted the survey and received 95 responses or 20% of its membership.

“For the respondents that did not support the card, 48% indicated their top reason (only one could be chosen) for not supporting the card was concern for human rights and 17% concern for staff being harassed,” reads a press release from the Chamber.

READ MORE: As B.C. prepares for vaccine passports, study breaks down reasons for opposition

Responses came from a large cross section of businesses, the Chamber reported.

“This new vaccine passport mandate does not come without concerns for our members; specifically, the stress and anxiety this places on frontline employees, as well as the general concern they have for human rights. We are all hopeful that these difficult measures being taken by the Province will be sufficient to curb the spread of COVID 19 in British Columbia,” said president Jonathan McGraw.

“We know that there is not one solution that fits all however, when asked what is the Chamber’s position, we can say that from the businesses that responded a large percentage want to do what it takes to stop the spread and hopefully one day be back to normal,” said Diane Kereluk, executive director.

READ MORE: People’s Party leader Maxine Bernier speaks against COVID-19 vaccine passports in Kelowna

In a survey conducted by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, 57% of the 268 surveyed were in favour of some sort of vaccine verification system for non-essential activities if it meant getting back to normal business levels.

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce surveyed its members in the North Okanagan, who were asked if they support proof of vaccinations, and 65% were in favour while 32% were not.

At the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, executive director Acacia Pangilinan said 101 members responded to a survey on the topic, and roughly 70% were in favour of the vaccine passports. 

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce also conducted a survey of members, where 57% of the 268 surveyed said they were in favour of some sort of vaccine verification system for non-essential activities if it meant getting back to normal business levels.

Federally, Quebec was the first government to impose a vaccine passport system, which it announced last month.

In response, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce expressed support for the move, citing the need for people to move freely and go about their daily lives.

"The private sector, like Canadians as a whole, is diverse — but one thing in which the private sector is very much united is that we can't afford to go into more across-the-board lockdowns,” said chamber president Perrin Beatty.

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