by Colin Smith
Face coverings will be mandatory in public places in Morinville when the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the community rises to 10 (and more than 50 cases per 100,000) if a proposed bylaw discussed by Town Council at its September 15 Committee of the Whole meeting becomes law.
The Mandatory Face Coverings Bylaw would require people to wear a face-covering at all time while in an indoor, enclosed or substantially enclosed public place or in public vehicles (taxis). Proposed penalties range from $100 up to $10,000.
The proposed bylaw sets out a number of exemptions, including for people who are unable to wear face coverings as a result of physical or mental health concerns, are unable to use face coverings without assistance, or are eating or drinking in designating seating areas or as part of a religious or spiritual ceremony.
At its August 25 regular meeting Council directed the Administration to bring forward a draft mandatory face-covering bylaw, including an effective trigger, for discussion.
Presenting the bylaw to Council, Iain Bushell, General Manager of Community and Infrastructure Services, pointed out that Alberta Health publishes a daily update of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in each region, with the result that they are put in Open, Watch and Enhanced Measures categories.
Bushell stated that many municipalities have included a trigger for mandatory face coverings based upon case numbers putting them into “Watch” status, which is based on at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000.
He said Morinville’s proposed bylaw was drafted following a review of the mandatory face-covering bylaws enacted by other communities because of a lack of provincial government direction and incorporated “best practices.”
However, the draft bylaw is unlikely to be passed in its present form, as Councillors at the Committee of the Whole meeting questioned several aspects of it.
One issue raised was that once the bylaw is triggered by cases rising to 10, the requirement for mandatory face coverings would remain even if the number subsequently goes down, until it is repealed.
“I cannot see me supporting a bylaw that doesn’t have a trigger-off,” said Councillor Stephen Dafoe.
Other Councillors voiced their agreement, and it was proposed that mandatory mask provisions be lifted once the number of active cases had dropped below 10 and remained there for 28 or 30 days.
Acknowledging Councillors’ concerns, Chief Administrative Officer Stephane Labonne indicated the Administration would work on revising the bylaw to include an off-trigger.
Another concern expressed, initially by Councillor Scott Richardson, was the size of the maximum penalty for violating the bylaw, set at $10,000.
Bushell stated that this figure would potentially be imposed only in “egregious” cases involving a number of people, such as large house parties where COVID prevention measures were deliberately being flouted.
Responding to a question from Councillor Rebecca Balanko, he said enforcement of the bylaw will be difficult, with usually only bylaw officer on during the day.
“This is a bylaw that will require the discretion of our staff,” added Labonne. “We have to look at it as education, compliance, enforcement.”
The draft bylaw was referred to Council’s September 22 regular meeting for First Reading.
As of Wednesday evening, Morinville had one active Covid-19 case. Sturgeon County, whose mask bylaw was removed on Monday after 14 days out of watch status is now up to 10 active cases and 35.8 per 100,000 of population.
Lmao what a joke.
Alia Dawn it’s what happens when you let 500 people attend a church opening.
Kevin Harling a bylaw comes into place when 500 people go to church on a Sunday?
The outfall will. Mask mandate in sturgeon county will be in effect when it’s ten people again in the county. With high concentrations of people, infection rate increases as well. Could be a sports event or political rally.
Kevin Harling 500 people went to church on Sunday and our cases didn’t increase….🤔 🤔
Why ? We have 1 case last I heard . So money just flushed down the toilet when you did the survey & WE THE PEOPLE voted it down on 2 platforms ! Disgusted ! Mandatory to e
Walk around with your head up your Ass these days , cause if you are free thinker that believes you the constitutional rights to form an opinion & make your own decisions you will be discriminated against by the Sheep. So create anger between the people cause of your ” Rules ” Online your attacked if you don’t agree with them & people with high anxiety suffer panic attacks .
Janice Kachman the Town of Morinville did not do a survey. This publication did a reader poll like we do on a variety of topics Reader polls are not binding on any government.
Morinville Online So the people that responded to your “polls” did so in vain. You are going to force on us what you want . Which in fact is my point ! Personal choice taken away is a violation if of my rights to choose what is best for me & I’m 60 so I think I know what is best for me . At Sobey’s yesterday , mostly staff in masks & a few others . More of us not .
Janice Kachman I would suggest most of the people who responded to the poll realized that it was what it said it was, a reader poll. If the poll was what your favourite flavour of ice cream was, grocery stores would still sell the other flavours.
Morinville Online That’s just more reference to your poll which doesn’t at all show any respect for me or my point
I want to choose how I live my life & don’t care about if it was a poll or a survey. People expressed an opinion & it’s being ignored so what was the point ? Do not respond , I am done with rude comments picking apart & taking away from what I was saying .
Janice Kachman you are precisely what is wrong in today’s society. Time to bend over and use your good eye to look at the world.
Dustan McLean shaming individuals who disagree with you is ridiculous. Many don’t agree with forced mask mandates. Many right here in Morinville. Personal attacks often hide weak arguments.
Bonnie Robert I’m shaming her stupidity thinking an online poll is more than what it is, Karen.
Dustan McLean a shame you conduct yourself like such a judgemental little man. I Don’t think you need to run defence for Stephen , at least not by being so nasty, I’m sure he can handle himself. Now stop calling our fellow community members nasty names. I’m sure Janice now understands her error tho I’m sure her opinions may be the same. Try to Reign in your intolerance. Oh, and I’ll call your “Karen” and raise you a “ bully”!
I see your bully and raise you an Ultracrepidarian.
Masks are gay
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/covid-19-deaths-plummet-to-zero-for-the-first-time-since-spring-in-canada?utm_content=buffer06658&utm_medium=LSN%2Bbuffer&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=LSN&fbclid=IwAR1fyrgAhPACWIpGjg3SOMTFN7gHulljax8XgOIJmhk7sY_WCsJ4FbhAlLY
ITS A FRIGGEN MASK. Good lord…. yoi dont want to wesr a mask STAY HOME THEN. No need to put others at risk. It’s not the worst thing in the world RIGHT NOW!!!!
Sara Elizabeth Hickey You are obviously a very bitter , angry & judgemental person .
Janice Kachman ya ok. Me thinking about the safety of myself and others makes me a bitter angry and judgemental person!🤣🤣🤣🤣 ok then. So be it.
Janice Kachman and if your judging me by that comment I put on there…. your a hypocrite! Look in the mirror
Bonnie Robert I only have a problem with Politicians legislating our lives & loss of Freedom ! & I her council reinstated itself without a vote .
I am appalled at the corruption of all levels of Gvt through this Pandemic ! Disgusting treating people like they’re incapable of making their own decisions.
Bonnie Robert Thank you for posting this ! Unethical ! that’s the word I was looking for ! I fully understand immunity s I have autoimmune & sanitizing everything & antibacterial soaps kill the good bacteria that makes your immunity strong. This could mean sickness such as Cancer to fallow . Did you notice all the Gvt is pushing is Funeral insurance ? Um , NO THANKS , LOL !
Bonnie Robert My only error was saying survey instead of poll & that’s all he heard , missed the main point , our opinion was for nothing.
Sara Elizabeth Hickey Judge not & you shall not be judged. I have a right to my opinion & you got NASTY !
Janice Kachman if you thought that was nasty thats hilarious!
The proposed bylaw sets out a number of exemptions, including for people who are unable to wear face coverings as a result of physical or mental health concerns, are unable to use face coverings without assistance, or are eating or drinking in designating seating areas or as part of a religious or spiritual ceremony.
I strongly disagree with people having exemptions to the rule! I know people have reasons but there are many alternatives you can choose rather than going in a public place without a mask.
I would like to know under the mental health what that means, as this is affecting my mental health as it’s stressing me the fuck out!
This is your PROPOSED bylaw on MASK? This is pretty weak leadership, just this preview is laughable, council can’t just say yes or no! I have some questions maybe administration can think about….here it goes!!!
So if this mask bylaw is approved how will administration/ communications be able to communicate this to the town and public? Are you going to have electronic signs updated everyday to let us know? Or you expect us to go to the town website for updates? Is that expected of all the town business to do every morning?
Also will you be enforcing this bylaw on the steps of the schools ( ex: MCHS) where students are standing in large groups talking without masks on and not being enforced in large groups ? Who will receive these finds of $100-$10,000, the students? The school? The parents?
Seriously waste of time! Have the leadership skills to not make it complicated for those who will not understand this…make it simple not stupid!
Im sorry, but based on previous interactions with the town bylaw officers I have concerns about their “discretion”
Could we be informed on what information this bylaw is being based on. The science and the data reviewed. Our province did not mandate mask wearing for all. Does counsel communicate with the province? Just wondering. A shame if decisions are made politically. Some are always scared some are overly casual you can’t make every individual happy, facts may be best to base this decision on especially when freedoms are removed. Just some thoughts.
IF masks are made mandatory – DONT SHOP LOCAL – they’ll get the point if the community votes with their dollars.
dont’ be dipshits