Mask bylaw explained
By COLLIN GALLANT on December 3, 2020.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant A 90-day bylaw requiring mask-use in Medicine Hat should be considered alongside laws against bullying and intimidation, said councillors as well as the head of a group that opposes mandatory masking. The bylaw specifically states that store owners or other members of the general public cannot demand proof of exemptions, though bylaw officers have that at their discretion. Coun. Phil Turnbull said that personal privacy should be respected by those who support mask use and those that feel they are an infringement. Any “bullying” or confrontations could be treated criminally by the police, he said. “Bylaws are not criminal,” he said, citing police chief Andy McGrogan’s saying. “Bylaws are about people living in a city together.” Opponents of the bylaw were generally well-behaved during the meeting, but were clearly upset with the result. “We’re not happy,” said Stephen Campbell, a spokesman for We Choose Freedom – Medicine Hat, a Facebook group, after the meeting. “Some of our members will never wear masks, but that’s the same in any group. For the most part, people follow the rules. And everyone should be against bullying. More education would help.” The local bylaw applies to all public buildings, including private businesses that receive the public, and public vehicles, including buses, taxis and ride shares, and those without exemption face a $40 to $50 fine. It would also require building owners and operators to post a standardized sign prominently at such buildings by Dec. 11. Excluded “public buildings” include the Medicine Hat Regional hospital, post-secondary facilities and daycares, most of which have their own policies. City administrators also have the right, too. Exempted are children under 2, or between the ages of two and eight, if the child cannot be persuaded to wear a mask by an accompanying adult. Other expeditions include: – Those wth mental or physical conditions that make mask wearing difficult, or their caregivers, if it proves unproductive to therapy; – Anyone unable to put on or remove a mask without physical help; – Anyone performing a religious rite for ceremony, athletic activity or dance or singing performance, though only when social distancing is in place; – Seated patrons at eating or drinking establishments. Exemptions of a temporary nature are included for those receiving service to the face areas, such as at a dentist, those performing or receiving CPR or other emergency care. Wearing a mask is also not a required for employees who are physically separated from the general public by a physical barrier, such as plexiglass. 21-20
