Starting next week, masks will be required in enclosed public spaces in Hamilton
Published July 17, 2020 at 7:41 pm
Hamilton councillors have ratified a bylaw that would make wearing a mask in indoor public places mandatory.
Hamilton councillors have ratified a bylaw that would make wearing a mask in indoor public places mandatory.
After several hours of debate at Friday’s (July 17) council meeting, Hamilton’s council passed the bylaw that requires residents to wear a face-covering in ‘enclosed public spaces.’
The bylaw goes into effect on Monday (July 20), and would impose fines of up to $500 on those who don’t adhere to it.
There were two councillors opposed to the bylaw and one, Ward 14’s Terry Whitehead, who opposed portions of it. Ultimately, Whitehead supported mandatory masking.
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Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson was opposed as was Ward 15 Councillor Judi Partridge, who said she felt the wording of the bylaw unfairly put the onus of enforcing it on businesses.
On the meeting’s agenda were more than 60 pieces of communication from the community addressing the issue of mandatory masking.
The majority of the correspondences were adamantly opposed to the bylaw.
Ward 11 Councillor Brenda Johnson referred to several letters she’s received in the last few days from constituents threatening not to vote for her in 2022 if she supports the bylaw.
“In response, I’ve said I hope they’re healthy enough in 2022 to cast that vote,” she said.
Several exemptions to the bylaw include children under the age of two or people who cannot remove a face covering without assistance.
People with underlying health issues that prevent mask-wearing and anyone engaged in physical activity, among others, are also exempt from the requirement.
An amendment to the bylaw will also allow people to remove a face covering to communicate with people with physical challenges.
While some councillors baulked at the decision to make wearing masks ‘mandatory’, bylaw and public health officials say that when it comes to enforcement, the hope is that an educational approach will help with compliance.
Some of the debate around the virtual horseshoe on Friday was around the misinformation and out-of-date science many people reference to validate their opposition.
Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla noted that he was particularly disheartened by it and disappointed in the politicization of a public health emergency.
“I beg you, stop importing the nonsense from the U.S.,” he said. “You are either part of the solution or part of the problem.”
Mayor Fred Eisenberger agreed and added that public health, particularly Hamilton’s Public Health Service, under the leadership of Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, has “brought us to a very good place,” in terms of the low number of cases and deaths in the city and we as a community can trust in their guidance.
“This is not a constitutional issue,” he said. “This is absolutely a public health issue.”
The bylaw will be up for review in three months time.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly quoted Councillor Maria Pearson when in fact it was the words of Councillor Brenda Johnson. Sincerest apologies for the mistake and confusion.
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