Artists, artisans and other non-food producing vendors are crying foul over the provincesa国际传媒檚 decision on Dec. 2 to bar them from all farmerssa国际传媒� markets in B.C. as a safety measure during the ongoing spike in cases of COVID-19.

Many rely on the markets for much of their annual income, with Christmas being their busiest season.

Robin Round, president and owner of the Cowichan Valleysa国际传媒檚 Botanical Bliss Products that sells soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, immune system tonics, and personal health-care products, said that while she depends on online and other sales, the Duncan Farmerssa国际传媒� Market alone accounts for 40 per cent of her annual sales in a normal year, and has been far more this year.

sa国际传媒淔or December 2020, the Duncan Market represents closer to 80 per cent of my income as all other markets and shows are shut, and people stop ordering online in mid-December for fear of not receiving items before Christmas,sa国际传媒� she said.

She said members of the BC Farmersa国际传媒檚 Market Association have been vigilant in meeting COVID-19 safety requirements at all times, and all businesses who attend the market are compliant.

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sa国际传媒淗ow and why they can single out small businesses in B.C. as a target for shutdown at the most critical point in the retail calendar, when all are compliant with their requirements, is beyond my comprehension,sa国际传媒� Round said.

Round said her business is suddenly considered non-essential, but it sells many of the same types of products as Shoppersa国际传媒檚 Drug Mart, Superstore, Thriftysa国际传媒檚, London Drugs, Costco and many other large retail outlets, and most of these stores are currently packed with shoppers, some elbow to elbow.

sa国际传媒淲hat they are doing is discriminating against the smallest of B.C. businesses under the guise of protecting us from COVID-19,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淭hey are not protecting us, they are destroying us. My business is incorporated in B.C. and is my full-time vocation that pays all my living expenses, including my mortgage. My business supports local bookkeepers, accountants, lawyers, graphic designers and printers, so these actions have a much broader impact than just a number of vendors at a market.sa国际传媒�

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Joe Fortin, a wood carver who relies on farmerssa国际传媒� markets for sales in the critical Christmas and summer seasons, said being shut out of the markets at this time of year puts all vendors who are not food producing into an extremely stressful position.

sa国际传媒淪ales during the Christmas season keep vendors like me going until April or May when the tourist season begins,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚f not for government handouts during the pandemic, Isa国际传媒檇 be in foreclosure right now and now Christmas is looking extremely bleak.sa国际传媒�

Fortin said he recently walked through a crowded department store and found only half the people wearing masks, and the air was stale with no movement.

sa国际传媒淚 then went for a walk down my farmerssa国际传媒� market in Duncan and the air was clean and fresh and everybody was being mindful of each other,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚f they have to put down restrictions, they should think about where they put them. We are not great big hording crowds. We are mindful people in open-air markets.sa国际传媒�

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Both Round and Fortin sent letters expressing their concerns to multiple government officials, including Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau, their Cowichan Valley MLA.

Furstenau said the Duncan Farmerssa国际传媒� Market, and other outdoor markets shesa国际传媒檚 attended, have very effective health procedures in place to help deal with COVID-19 and keep vendors and customers safe.

sa国际传媒淚 think they are doing a great job and I wrote a letter to [Health Minister] Adrian Dix asking him to work with [Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry and reconsider this decision,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淧ersonally, I prefer shopping outdoors, especially at a time like this, and these markets support local arts and other businesses. I recognize that Adrian Dix and Dr. Henry have to make many complex decisions, but theresa国际传媒檚 always opportunities to reflect on how to do things better.sa国际传媒�

A statement from the Ministry of Health said, at this time, farmerssa国际传媒� markets must only sell food items.

sa国际传媒淣on-food items and personal services are restricted, except for on-line sales and pick-up orders,sa国际传媒� the statement said.

sa国际传媒淭he reason that food vendors are allowed is that farmerssa国际传媒� markets are essential food and agriculture service providers. Itsa国际传媒檚 the product (food) that is considered essential, so that is why it is allowed.sa国际传媒�

The statement went on to say that any store operating in B.C. has filed a COVID safety plan with WorkSafe BC to make sure they are providing a safe environment to shop in.

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