EDITORIAL – Gyms that refuse to close should get fines, not exemptions
(Image: Pixabay)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THE IMPORTANCE of physical activity and mental wellness has become obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic but there are limits on how we achieve that.
Some gyms in Kamloops and elsewhere in B.C. refuse to close their doors despite an order from Dr. Bonnie Henry that they must do so at least until Jan. 18. On Tuesday, Henry re-stated her insistence that gyms must close, yet there’s no sign of enforcement.
The gyms say they should be declared an essential service, and that they must stay open for the good of their clients. It goes without saying, perhaps — and for the good of their business.
There’s no question that those deprived of their daily dose of intense exercise when gyms close feel the effects. It doesn’t take long to start feeling out of sorts.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I totally disagree as 18 months later we have so much evidence of the lies from our own Dr Bonnie Henry ect. that we have been fed. Has there been any so called out break of cases from the gyms that are for the health of the people. They make them have a unlawful vax pass taking away medical autonomy, make them wear masks while exercising. REALLY??? Does this all really make sense to you, have you not witnessed any hypocrisy? all of the hypocrisy and control measures, it is clear it has never been about health for the Virus that was never been isolated and has a 99.4 % survival rate for those over 70. Omicron cold let us talk deaths why cases? Enough is enough what does Canada not see that other Countries get it and see. .The cover up stories are abundant for the failed experiment that they would never dare to admit. One only has to go to the VEARS reporting system. There was no pandemic until the rollout of the Jabs. You want to know how many they want you to take? OPEN EYES to the rest of the story and both sides have much misinformation. All business is essential to their livelihood. Wow no gym but Casino like above comment or McDonalds or sit side by side on a plane. Look at the cruise ships all injected passengers. Air line pilots, all the sports soccer deaths and injuries. Do you even see them binging in Totalitarianism. The frogs get slowly boiled and people are blinded to all of the red flags
Any profit based organization claiming automatic exemption from health based orders should be fined heavily. A law and a health order are the same in intent, and exemption from Rules for the public good is usually called greed, selfishness, or crime.
I recently watched you and listened to your story, I disagree with you, you say all gyms should be closed because people sweat on each other? Really? I visited the casino chances and people are sitting side by side with no cleaning being done as people jump from machine to machine, maybe Bonnie Henry should visit them but then again they are government owned and I suppose the motto is do as I say not as I do. Totally unfair.