Calgary firms hit with temporary closures over unpaid health permit fees
CALGARY - Several eateries and food services establishments, including Papa Chocolat, Bernard Callebautâs latest venture, were temporarily closed recently over issues with payment of their food handling permits.
Every food establishment has to pay an annual fee of $100 to $250 for the permit, a regulation brought in under the Ed Stelmach government in 2006 to cover costs in running the Environmental Public Health Program, including health inspections.
Over 20 Calgary-area businesses are listed on the Alberta Health Services website as having a closure order issued since February for failing to pay the fee.
AHS said the invoices for the current year (Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 31, 2012) went out in August, with a reminder notice in December and followup phone calls early this year.
But both Papa Chocolat and Swanâs pub in Inglewood said they sent cheques in after receiving notices that they hadnât paid and both said there were no further followups before they were ordered to close.