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masks mandatory through june

City council approves extension to Red Deer’s face covering bylaw

Feb 16, 2021 | 6:33 PM

Red Deer city council has extended the end date for a bylaw mandating the wearing of face coverings in indoor public places and public vehicles in the community.

On Tuesday, council unanimously approved third and final reading of “The Face Covering in Public Places Bylaw.”

The extension means citizens will now be required to wear face coverings in indoor public places and public vehicles until June 1, 2021, instead of the previously approved end date of March 1, due to the ongoing conditions presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The related Transit Face Covering Bylaw and Face Coverings in Civic Facilities Bylaw were also extended through June 1 during a previous meeting of council on Feb. 1.

According to city officials, the municipal bylaw will continue to be secondary to the provincial face covering bylaw which is currently in place; however, the extension is aimed at ensuring consistency and alignment with the overall provincial mask bylaw.

Although voting in favour of the amendment to extend The Face Covering in Public Places Bylaw, Councillor Buck Buchanan admits it’s still a contentious issue.

“Previously I voted ‘no’ on third reading in regards to this after a discussion with a doctor at the emergency services here,” says Buchanan. “But because of what’s been happening and the province doing what they’re doing, I will do exactly as a previous councillor said and hold my nose and bite my tongue and vote in favour of it.”

“For me, if we were to ease restrictions at this time and not have a mask bylaw, I don’t think we’re taking a prudent action to protect our public, so for those reasons, I’m supporting the bylaw,” said Councillor Dianne Wyntjes.

Councillor Ken Johnston acknowledged the hard road it’s been for everyone, but also supports the extension of the bylaw at this time.

“This is the double-down time for us,” suggested Johnston. “Vaccines are on the way, the supply chain for vaccine is getting certain stronger but hang in there, the next couple of months are going to be critical. There is hope, there is a way through this.”

Johnston added, “It’s been fraught with a lot of challenges, tragedy, exhaustion. And yet glimmers of great success and heroism and hope, so the battle is not over, but the end of the battle is within site. So I encourage our public to stay the course, stay protected, wear your mask and continue to fight this thing til the end.”

At this time, officials say The City of Red Deer continues to focus on education and voluntary compliance with the bylaw and say fines are issued as needed. They note those responsible for enforcement are seeking to educate and encourage compliance, only issuing public health order violations when education fails.

Under the bylaw, face coverings means a medical or non-medical mask, or other face covering to create a barrier that limits the transmission of respiratory droplets.

The fine for non-compliance is $50.

More information about the Province of Alberta’s mandatory mask bylaw is available at www.alberta.ca/masks.

More information about The City of Red Deer’s mandatory face covering bylaw is available here.