THE City of Vancouver announced on Monday that it has temporarily suspended the business licenses of Corduroy and Gusto restaurants because they had refused to comply with COVID-19 public health orders, and the subsequent closure orders from Vancouver Coastal Health.

The business licenses are suspended immediately until April 20. If the restaurants continue to operate during this time, the City said it can issue tickets, revoke their licenses, or refuse to issue a business license for up to five years.
Vancouvee Mayor Kennedy Stewart said: ““I think the whole country was aghast at the behaviour of these restaurant owners who openly defied public health orders in the face of rising case counts and the spread of variants. The harassment and bullying public health officials experienced during the execution of their duties is completely unacceptable. The City of Vancouver has taken swift and strong measures to close these restaurants and will pursue any future violations to the full extent of the law against these and other non-compliant businesses.”

He added: “The hospitality industry has done an exceptional job at keeping their workers and customers safe and I want to recognize those that have continued to follow public health orders. We all need to stick together and follow the health advice of [Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry to defeat COVID-19.”