Red Deer Transit riders will be required to wear face coverings starting Aug. 31, 2020. (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Troy Gillard and Sheldon Spackman

“Our public is very divided over it”

Council makes mask wearing mandatory on Red Deer Transit, but not in public places

Aug 17, 2020 | 6:57 PM

The City of Red Deer is making it mandatory for Red Deer Transit riders to wear face coverings starting Aug. 31.

However, city council tabled a bylaw to make mask wearing mandatory in public places in Red Deer. It’ll only be brought back if Alberta Health Services expresses concern over the number of active cases in Red Deer between now and Dec. 31, 2020.

For a region to be put on “watch” is to have at least 10 active cases and a rate of over 50 active cases per 100,000 population. It’s at that point when provincial officials begin monitoring the risk and discussing with local officials and other community leaders the possible need for additional health measures, according Alberta Health’s website.

City administration had recommended mask wearing in public places become mandatory once Red Deer reaches a threshold of 25 active cases per 100,000.

“Regardless of what the escalation is, what the number is, I think what you want, you want this bylaw to be tabled and we will deal with it if the chief medical officer of the province says we now have a problem in Red Deer and you need to do something about it,” City Manager Allan Seabrooke clarified regarding the amendment to the proposed bylaw. “You just want a medical expert to say, ‘Red Deer, you have a problem and you need to do something about it.’”

Last seen Nov. 28

Missing: Jimmy Eagle, 27, of Maskwacis

19h ago

the situation is dire

Two deaths, possibly from cold exposure, raise alarm amid Red Deer shelter situation and plight of homeless community

Dec 12, 2025

Lace-'Em Up!

Red Deer's outdoor rinks returning for another season

Dec 12, 2025

“It’s keeping the prospect of a bylaw alive. Instead of calling a special meeting, what’s proposed is if we hear from the Chief Medical Officer of Health within the City, then it would immediately bring this back,” Veer added.

The transit bylaw, which council approved unanimously, applies to riders aged nine and up, which Councillor Lawrence Lee pointed out “Meshes nicely with the provincial mandate for masks for Grade 4 to 12 students.”

About 1,300 mostly high school students a day ride city buses to classes in the city, Lee noted.

Mayor Tara Veer pointed out during Monday’s council meeting, their first in-person meeting since March, that physical distancing of two metres is impossible when city buses are crowded at certain times of the day.

A violation of the bylaw comes with a $50 fine to any adult or a minor’s legal guardian.

Councillor Buck Buchanan asked how the bylaw will be enforced if a transit rider refuses to wear a mask. City Manager Allan Seabrooke said it would be enforced the same way any other bylaw would, through a Community Peace Officer. However, he noted that public education and a request to wear a mask would be the most likely action taken.

Issues with school-aged children not wearing masks on public transit would be taken up with local school boards, according to Seabrooke.

To this point, the highest Red Deer has reached is 14 cases per 100,000 people. Seabrooke credited Red Deerians for their diligence in helping COVID-19 be at bay, by washing their hands, practicing physical distancing and wearing masks whenever that’s not possible.

Several councillors shared their disappointment over the provincial government leaving it to municipalities to deal with the “divisive” face coverings issue rather than take the lead themselves.

Councillors also talked about how they have received hundreds of emails from citizens over the issue.

Councilor Dianne Wyntjes spoke in favour of the bylaw before it was tabled.

“It’s a choice,” says councilor Dianne Wyntjes. “But for me, respecting those who have compromised systems and again, removing the tension from a community, let’s be respectful to each other in this debate and conversations that we’re doing the best for our community and let us keep those cases low.”

Councillor Frank Wong, who admits to having a compromised immune system himself, says he wears a mask out of common sense.

“It’s not based on any scientific reasoning, but I wear it because I understand.”

Councillor Vesna Higham was not in favour of the bylaw as presented, saying even the province, chief medical officer of health and WHO don’t mandate the use of masks.

“For me, the bottom line is this,” says Higham. “If our numbers creep up close to 50 (active cases), we can within the drop of a hat convene a special meeting of council, we can have three readings of a bylaw on the table in one meeting and we can put it into effect very quickly and very nimbly. But if the best science in our province, the chief medical officer of Alberta, if Dr. Hinshaw isn’t recommending mandatory masking, even at 50, then I don’t think we should put ourselves in the place of medical experts to mandate it.”

“By mandating mask use, it suggests physical distancing is never possible,” added Councilor Tanya Handley. “I see all sides of this, but I think we need to stick to the business we have jurisdiction over, like transit, our own buildings, our own facilities which our city manager has said we’ll be looking at different protocols and strategies for us as a business to protect our employees if we feel that’s necessary. But I have real strong concerns about mandating private businesses and what they can and cannot do in our city.”

NOTE: This story previously indicated that city council would revisit a face covering bylaw once Red Deer reached 50 active cases, or placed under a COVID-19 Watch. The story has been corrected.