By Josh Hall

police confirm health order enforcement

Anti-mask rally in Red Deer leads to charges

Dec 11, 2020 | 11:49 AM

A total of seven people will be charged stemming from a Dec. 5 anti-mask rally in Red Deer.

Red Deer RCMP confirmed to rdnewsNOW that officers – working alongside public health inspectors – were at the City Hall Park rally and charged two people while there. Five more people are in the process of being charged for breaching public health orders (PHO).

“This rally was identified as a potential super-spreader event by Alberta Health Services,” says RCMP Inspector Holly Glassford. “At the rally, speakers and attendees were issued violation notices based on their actions at the rally. Names can be released when they enter the public record.”

On Nov. 30, a municipal face coverings bylaw came into effect in Red Deer, though the province-wide mandate implemented this week now supersede the City’s.

While the City’s bylaw was the sole face covering regulation in place at the time of the Dec. 5 rally, no fines were handed out. The bylaw stipulates a $50 fine for non-compliance. However, rules were in place barring outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

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“The Community Peace Officers have a duty to ensure that public health orders are being upheld,” says Bart Rowland, Municipal Policing Services Manager. “While enforcement is an option, we recognize this is a hard time for people and so we will work to educate and encourage as much as possible.”

However, dating back to the beginning of the pandemic in March, Red Deer detachment has received 34 calls for service directly related to public health orders.

Calls have included, but are not limited to isolation non-compliance, apprehension orders and for gatherings in residence.

The lone violation notice in Red Deer was handed out Dec. 9 after recent indoor gathering restrictions were put in place, with RCMP attending a Red Deer home to warn occupants their house party was in contravention of orders. A second call about the same party resulted in a $1,200 fine.

“Public safety is the Red Deer RCMP’s top priority, and we strived to be responsive to the needs of our community through this healthcare crisis,” says Glassford.

“Since March, we have responded to public health order calls with an educational approach to encourage voluntary compliance. Though we will continue this practice, if behaviours or actions are intentionally and actively non-compliant, we will respond with enforcement.”

Glassford says officers will use their discretion and expertise in determining whether to solely focus on education or to hand out a violation.

Meantime, RCMP says they are also combatting misinformation about their role in enforcing provincial and municipal measures.

“A number of social media posts are circulating which speculate that Red Deer officers are issuing fines for a PHO violation. This is untrue,” Glassford explains.

“The Red Deer RCMP and Community Peace Officers are not proactively stopping vehicles or checking license plates parked outside of homes to check for PHO violations.”

Meantime, another rally is scheduled for Saturday afternoon (Dec. 12) at Red Deer City Hall Park.

On Friday, Mayor Tara Veer issued the following statement to rdnewsNOW when asked about the recurring rallies.

“The City of Red Deer recognizes the constitutional rights of citizens to peacefully protest. However, all protestors are reminded that under Provincial Government health orders, public and private outdoor social gatherings are currently prohibited,” she wrote. “Citizens are expected to comply with all public health protocols in effect. Law enforcement attends all protests to uphold community safety. The City implores all citizens to follow public health measures to mitigate community spread as much as possible.”