By Josh Hall

face coverings

Two of three City mask bylaws extended to June 1

Feb 1, 2021 | 7:14 PM

Council took another look at The City of Red Deer’s face coverings bylaws on Monday.

The matter was back on the agenda because the bylaws mandating the wearing of face coverings on Red Deer Transit and in civic facilities and indoor places were set to expire March 1.

Proposed was simply to extend through June 1.

Councillor Lawrence Lee proposed an amendment to tie the bylaws’ sunset clauses to whenever the province gets rid of its masking regulations. Administration noted that isn’t something council has ever done.

He argued this would prevent council from having to constantly revisit the trio of bylaws.

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Councillor Dianne Wyntjes rebutted, saying it’s important for council to be responsive.

“To give our authority back to the province is not something I can support,” she added.

The amendment was defeated 6-3, though Lee had support from councillors Ken Johnston and Michael Dawe.

On the main motion for the transit face coverings bylaw, the amendment to extend to June 1 carried 7-2 on each of the three readings, meaning its expiry is now June 1.

On third reading, Lee reiterated that although he supports mask-wearing, having a municipal directive and a provincial directive only serves to confuse residents.

Councillor Vesna Higham told Lee he should support the extension if he supports masking, saying that council was splitting hairs.

“There’s a lot of division and difference of opinion about what the best response is,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “The city has very limited decision-making authority, yet we’re fielding a lot of concerns because local government is the closest to the people.”

“We’re all ‘COVIDed to death,” said Councillor Buck Buchanan, suggesting many people don’t think the rules make sense since they couldn’t have Christmas with their kids, but could, “go to Walmart with half of Red Deer.”

The bylaw pertaining to civic facilities was passed 8-1 on each reading, with Councillor Tanya Handley dissenting. Handley said the bylaws are redundant because provincial rules supersede what the City has in place. She also argued the public should have another opportunity to have their say.

It’s expiry is now June 1.

The indoor places bylaw came last, and the extension amendment passed 8-1 on first and second readings, Handley once again opposed.

Wyntjes appealed to Handley, saying the bylaw is in the public’s best interest, because in order to go to third reading in one sitting, council must unanimously allow it.

Handley voted against going to third reading, meaning the final reading of the indoor places face coverings bylaw will return for council’s consideration on Feb. 16.

Veer commented, “This is confusing for the public, but I don’t know that our discussion tonight is necessarily eliminating any of that confusion.”

On Nov. 30, when Red Deer’s indoor places face coverings bylaw came into effect, the city had 236 active cases of COVID-19, a record at the time.

Active cases in the city peaked at 434 on Dec. 19 and dipped as low as 158 on Jan. 24. As of Monday, Red Deer has 190 active cases of COVID-19.

The fine for non-compliance of face covering requirements is $50. However, The City of Red Deer says it preference is to “educate prior to issuing tickets and fines.”