The owner of a Belleville restaurant that has had its liquor licence suspended for not following COVID-19 health measures says she will appeal the decision.
Following several communications and visits since September, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the restaurant’s liquor licence Wednesday night.
Owner Jackie Banas feels that the interpretation of the rules doesn’t honour higher laws.
“We have chosen to operate the Wild Wing trying our best to be in integrity with all of the laws that are in operation in Canada and in Ontario. You know, we’re honouring mask exemptions and freedom of medical privacy and things of those nature.”
She says she’s not a radical.
“We’re not trying to be rebellious or argumentative, we just want to uphold all of Canada’s laws and not ignore one for another. So we’re doing the best we can to navigate this very confusing time.”
She acknowledges its a sticky situation.
“We’re in a situation where, we’ve never been through something like this in Canada so it is very challenging and confusing for everyone to know what the right thing to do is and how to handle this situation. And so the health department is doing what they feel is best based on the training they have. And same thing with the AGCO.”
She says she was also issued several fines from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health to which she has pleaded not guilty and says she has not been given a court date yet.
The restaurant remains open but is not serving alcohol.
