ATHABASCA - Town of Athabasca councillors will have their first look at a potential mandatory mask bylaw when they next meet Nov. 17.
At the Nov. 3 regular meeting, town council voted to direct administration to draft a bylaw that would come into effect if the region reaches enhanced COVID status, as per Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Mayor Colleen Powell brought forward the conversation to have a preemptive bylaw in place that could be triggered and rescinded depending on the number of COVID cases identified within Athabasca County.
“I'm seeing that Barrhead and Sherwood Park and some other communities have prepared, for wont of a better word, a preemptive mandatory mass bylaw, so that if our community becomes a watch community, AHS would set the number of cases that would trigger that this bylaw go into effect,” Powell said. “That would save us some time having to pass a bylaw (with) three readings quickly in case that happened and it would be there ready for us to push the button just in case we needed to.”
She added that another alternative would be a straight mandatory mask bylaw which did not gain support, however the preemptive bylaw did.
“I like what Barrhead has done. I read the article, and I think it's a good idea,” said Coun. Ida Edwards. “We have people in our community who are immune compromised, and I don't want people to be stuck in their homes if they could possibly go out if we're all wearing masks. So, that's part of it, is to support compromised people. So, I support a triggered mandatory mask bylaw that if we become a watch community or higher.”
Watch status is achieved when more than 10 active cases occur within a specified area and the active case rate per 100,000 residents is higher than 50, but no other measures are required. Enhanced status requires those same numbers, but additional measures, as decided by the municipality, such as a mandatory mask bylaw are required.
Councillors Rob Balay, Dave Pacholok and Tannia Cherniwchan were also in favour of directing administration to draft the bylaw, however, Coun. John Traynor did not support the proposed bylaw when it came time to vote although he seemed to support it during the discussion.
“According to our business community, they're in favour of mandatory masks in place,” Traynor said. “But you know what? At the school we have our mandatory masks, but like Coun. Edwards was saying it seems like that's where the problems seem to be. So, no matter how safe you really are, it always seems to be regarding some mask wearing or not. But I think, you know, it's always better to be safe than sorry, I always say. You can't enact it when it's already started because it's too late by that time, right. So, it might be a good idea to have it ready to go.”
Pacholok questioned how the bylaw would be enacted, if it came to that, once passed.
Powell said it could be written into the bylaw that the chief administrative officer (CAO) would have the power to enact it without having to call an emergency special meeting.
“If you’re passing a bylaw that says ‘this many cases’ then it’s triggered automatically,” said CAO Rachel Ramey. “If you look at Strathcona (County) I believe theirs says 35 cases. Council can either have a specific number in there; if we have so many active cases then the bylaw takes force.”
Traynor asked how it would be enforced, or whether, it would be on the honour system, noting he thought it was a violation of civil rights, but Ramey said there would have to be violation penalties included.
“I would say that the civil rights of the community outweigh individual civil rights in a health emergency,” Powell said.
Council directed administration to draft the bylaw to be triggered if the Athabasca region is elevated to enhanced status as per AHS guidelines, compelling people to wear masks in public areas.
“If you're working in an office ... you're distancing pretty well; I don't want to enforce those people to have to wear masks,” said Powell. “However, if you are serving the public, I think you should have a mask on.”
Administration will have a draft bylaw prepared for first reading at the Nov. 17 council meeting.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @HLSox
