The temporary mandatory face covering bylaw was extended by Lethbridge city council early last week.
The bylaw has been in place since Aug. 24, 2020. The Community Standing Policy Committee recommended to city council in early February, to let the bylaw expire on Feb. 23, 2021, as it was intended from the previous extension back in Nov. 2020.
This motion was defeated with a vote of 5-4, which was encountered by a resolution introduced by Deputy Mayor, Rob Miyashiro, to extend it until Dec. 31, 2021 instead. But an amendment by Councillor Mauro passed 5-4, changing the expiry date to Apr 30, 2021.
“We had our facial covering bylaw in place months before the province did and I can probably guarantee that will probably have ours in place months after the province revokes theirs and it’s in order to keep our community safe,” said Deputy Mayor, Rob Miyashiro.
After deliberating for almost two hours, during what was a at times a heated debate, city council voted 6-3 in favour of extending the temporary mandatory face covering bylaw, with councillors Parker, Hyggen and Mauro opposed.
“I will be voting against it because I still believe that province’s guidelines are the ones we should be following and that it is redundant for us to have a law in place,” said city councillor Ryan Parker.
Mayor Spearman says he doesn’t believe having a municipal bylaw is redundant, as it is up to city council to look out for the citizens of Lethbridge, especially since Alberta was the last province to make masks mandatory in the country. He voted in favour of extending the face covering bylaw.
“I am proud to say we should extend this mask by law and that we should all do our best to keep our businesses safe and keep our people safe,” said Mayor Chris Spearman.
Council also voted for Administration to prepare an amending Bylaw to harmonize the City of Lethbridge Bylaw exemptions with the Chief Medical Officer of Health Order exemptions.
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