By Staff
July 4th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette published an opinion piece on the difficulty Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was having on the matter of face masks.
Does she bring in a bylaw or does she equivocate and rely on social media to tell her story.
Our opinion piece is HERE
The Mayors response the day after is set out below.
Marianne Meed Ward – the night the city elected her Mayor.
Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback regarding a mandatory mask bylaw in Burlington. I am bringing forward a bylaw proposal for discussion at the July 9 Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee. Your continued feedback is welcome to mayor@burlington.ca
In the last few days we have received confirmation from the Region of Halton Medical Officer of Health of her support for a bylaw, and I have received overwhelming support from the community and a number of businesses for such a bylaw.
I’ve been researching Section 22 mask orders directed by a Medical Officer of Health & municipal/regional bylaws (only Toronto has so far passed one). The language is similar except that Section 22 comes with $5000/day fines for businesses. There are no set fines yet for a bylaw.
Only the Medical Officer of Health can order a Section 22. For reference, the Wellington/Dufferin/Guelph Medical Officer of Health Section 22 order is here. The following to links are in the pdf format – you will need access to Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The City of Toronto bylaw provides for exceptions & no one can be required to show proof of how they meet those exceptions. There are no set fines yet. The bylaw is temporary. Read it here.
It is acknowledged a bylaw would be difficult to enforce but can help with voluntary compliance. As TO put it: “Whereas it is believed that the existence of an enforceable temporary by-law requirement will help to educate the public on the importance of a properly worn mask or face covering and encourage voluntary compliance”
The city of St. Catharines is also looking at a bylaw. Read the proposed motion here.
Please continue to provide me with your feedback on this important discussion.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte is believed to be preparing a motion calling for Face masks to be worn. She is reported to be working with the City Manager, the City Clerk and legal to put bring forward a Motion to Council this week to implement a temporary bylaw requiring masks be made mandatory inside all public indoor spaces.
Stolte appears to be a step or two ahead of the Mayor these days.
