Bill and Judy Hartley leave a Crestwood area buiness on Tuesday afternoon. A new survey conducted by the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce suggests that a majority of Hatters are opposed to the possibility of a mandatory mask bylaw. -- NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A general survey suggests Hatters not only don’t favour a local mandatory mask bylaw but even suggest one would make them less likely to patronize local businesses in person.
The poll was conducted by the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce this month, and eventually 2,700 people responded with only one third support for mandatory mask options.
About 60 per cent said they weren’t in favour and about seven per cent registered no preference.
“It’s kind of the approach we’ve taken, and the cases have remained low,” said Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston, who has said he’s not actively considering such a mandate.
“Council’s taken a wait-and-see approach and the majority of citizens, I would say, see us being on the right track.”
Other mid-sized cities in Alberta have enacted public-use mask bylaws with varying degrees.
Several note trigger points at which mask use would be mandatory in public spaces, like city facilities, but also private businesses wear the public visits.
Masks are “recommended” in city facilities and on buses.
Some national retail chains – like Walmart, Dollar Tree, and others – as well as eight stores in the Medicine Hat Mall are listed as requiring masks, including Homesense and Marshals, along with Glady’s Alternations, Spencer’s Gifts and the Children’s Place.
Some argue that mandatory mask bylaws take the pressure off business owners reluctant to offend customers, and are a non-invasive way to increase containment of the coronavirus.
Others have argued they are an affront to freedom and personal choice, or question their effectiveness.
The unscientific survey asked two questions on the matter.
On the question of whether they were in favour of a mandatory, indoor mask bylaw, 61 per cent said “no,” while 30 per cent said yes, and close to 7 per cent said they didn’t care.
If a mask bylaw was in place, would you be more or less likely to visit local business provoked a 60 per cent response in the “less likely” option. About 23 per cent said more likely, and 17 per cent said it would not affect their patronage.
