No mask bylaw plans, city says

By GILLIAN SLADE on July 23, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

Medicine Hat will not be following Calgary’s lead imposing a bylaw requiring face masks to be worn in public places.

On Tuesday Calgary city council voted 12-3 in favour of a new bylaw making the wearing of a face mask mandatory in all indoor public places, starting Aug. 1.

In Medicine Hat, Mayor Ted Clugston says he and council have discussed the situation.

“Right now we aren’t considering it,” said Clugston, barring unusual circumstances.

Clugston says early on in the pandemic there was a lot of pressure to declare a local state of emergency after other cities did. Medicine Hat decided against it because council felt it was necessary to continue doing things like cutting grass in parks and filling potholes.

“The reason why we didn’t is because health care is a provincial responsibility and Alberta Health had declared a health emergency,” said Clugston. “When it comes to masks we also see it as a health (issue) … Alberta Health has deemed that masks at present are not required in public places.”

If at some point Alberta Health makes masks a requirement then of course Medicine Hat would comply with that ruling, said Clugston, noting it is important to respect the jurisdiction of various layers of government.

“We wouldn’t make a bylaw but we would assist them (the province) in helping people comply.”

Clugston says this is not about whether masks are right.

“This is not an anti-mask thing … If you are fearful or have a compromised family member, absolutely we encourage you to wear one,” said Clugston, pointing out that those who feel strongly that Alberta needs to make masks mandatory, should contact their MLA.

Calgary is dealing with a significant number of active cases of COVID-19 and city officials said the mask bylaw would help to limit the spread.

Clugston said if Medicine Hat was dealing with high numbers of COVID-19 it would be necessary to take another look at the situation. So far there has been one death in Medicine Hat attributed to COVID-19 by Alberta Health.

He says if he took a trip to Toronto and wanted to use the subway, there is no question he would use a mask, whether it was mandatory or not.

The Calgary bylaw will require a mask covering mouth, nose and chin while in public spaces such as malls, grocery stores, in taxis and on public transit. It does not include schools, daycare centres and multi-family residential buildings and those younger than two-years.

Calgary will require businesses to post signs but not refuse entry or service to someone not wearing a mask. There are certain exemptions for masks including medical conditions, people who are eating or drinking and those doing a physical fitness activity. Anyone who does not fall into a category where they are exempted, could be fined $100 to $200, however Calgary city officials said the emphasis will be on education.

Clugston says in Medicine Hat throughout the pandemic the emphasis has been on educating people rather than ticketing.

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