The Calgary Chamber is asking the province to create a passport system for the COVID-19 vaccine

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is asking the province to create a COVID-19 vaccine passport system.

In a speech on Tuesday Calgary is an eye openerChamber president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said she was concerned about the ability of businesses to stay open as the province lifted restrictions.

“Our members have told us that the vaccine certification passport is a very good idea, and it's very important to continue to roll out successfully and consistently,” Yedlin said.

“If we're not going to test, monitor and isolate, we need another mechanism to keep everyone safe.”

Vaccine passports are documents that can be presented as proof of immunization against COVID-19. Under such a system, people without a vaccine passport may be barred from entering businesses and other public places.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has joined the Canadian Civil Liberties Union and other premiers, including Ontario's Doug Ford and Saskatchewan's Scott Mow, in reiterating his opposition to the vaccine passport concept.

“We've been clear from the beginning that we're not going to facilitate or accept vaccine passports,” Kenney said in July.

“I think they are in violation of the Health Information Act, as well as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.”

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Last week, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Quebecers will soon have to show proof of vaccination to access non-essential services such as restaurants and bars after a surge in cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Yedlin said a similar system should be in place in Alberta so businesses have the ability to verify their customers. Such a system could include an app or a physical card that shows whether a person has been vaccinated.

Yedlin: “There's a saying in business: if you can't measure it, you can't manage it. “So the tool that comes with testing, tracing, isolation is disappearing. So what's the next best mechanism? It's a vaccine.”

Yedlin said the chamber will continue to lobby federal and provincial officials about the need for passports.

With Calgary Eyeopener files.