Recent changes to Ontario's COVID-19 restrictions have allowed concerts to reopen at full capacity. In BC, however, restrictions still prevent standing at live shows, and members of the concert industry are calling on Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to update the rules accordingly.
A message from Vancouver's Rickshaw Theatre states that the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) has sent a letter to Henry requesting "regulatory fairness and the lifting of the 'no standing' regulation for live music venues." The organization received no response and has now sent the letter to other members of the BC government.
The letter points out that venues face several unequal regulations, including the fact that "mingling and standing" are allowed in restaurants but not venues, fans are allowed to stand in their seats at sporting events, and other provinces have lifted their regulations on general admission shows. Furthermore, the mere act of standing has not been scientifically shown to increase the spread of COVID-19.
The CLMA additionally notes that, "live music venues, proud frontrunners in adopting vaccine passport systems, require ALL patrons to be fully vaccinated."
The CLMA is encouraging music fans to fill out a form on its website to voice support for the campaign and pressure the BC government to allow general admission shows with standing room.
A message from Vancouver's Rickshaw Theatre states that the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) has sent a letter to Henry requesting "regulatory fairness and the lifting of the 'no standing' regulation for live music venues." The organization received no response and has now sent the letter to other members of the BC government.
The letter points out that venues face several unequal regulations, including the fact that "mingling and standing" are allowed in restaurants but not venues, fans are allowed to stand in their seats at sporting events, and other provinces have lifted their regulations on general admission shows. Furthermore, the mere act of standing has not been scientifically shown to increase the spread of COVID-19.
The CLMA additionally notes that, "live music venues, proud frontrunners in adopting vaccine passport systems, require ALL patrons to be fully vaccinated."
The CLMA is encouraging music fans to fill out a form on its website to voice support for the campaign and pressure the BC government to allow general admission shows with standing room.
