By Pepper Parr
July 9th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – they passed it at Standing Committee.
After three solid hours of debate during which one delegation suggested that the views of the average citizen should take precedence over the views of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
The same delegation asked where the MOH was getting her information.
Jim Young did a solid delegation for a bylaw that would make face masks mandatory with a long list of exceptions.
The intention is to pass the bylaw at city council on the 13th – it will include an allotment of $10,000 to cover the cost of masks for those who can’t afford one.
The community produced 3000 cloth masks – cost free to anyone who needed one – that was two months ago.
The Gazette lead an initiative that provided 3,000 cloth face masks to the community months ago. That initiative involved hundreds of volunteer hours put in before each mask was quarantined for 72 hours and given to anyone who wanted one.
Councillors Stolte and Galbraith handed out masks to people in their wards.
What struck us as we listened to the debate that really did go on and on – and on, was that we have yet to see a photograph with the Mayor wearing a mask.
We always thought that one led by example.
Chair Rory Nisan hands his hands full keeping the debate on topic.
Rory Nisan serving as chair did a solid job of trying to keep the discussion on topic – he didn’t always succeed – the cats just were not going to be herded.Come Monday we will have a bylaw – what it will say isn’t clear yet.
The one point made during the debate was that the anything COVID19 related was very fluid – changes by the hour.
The vote was 7-0
