Mask Issue Discussed At Council

When you get on a bus or enter a City-owned facility you may have to wear a mask in the not so distant future. It is something Council is set to consider.

During discussions surrounding when to restore Moose Jaw Transit to its regular schedule and start charging fares Councillor Chris Warren asked if riders were going to have to wear masks on the bus and what measures would be needed to ensure proper physical distancing.

As part of the measures to lessen the impact of the COVID - 19 pandemic Council waived charging fares since April but on a reduced schedule.

City manager Jim Puffalt said the issue of mandatory mask wearing was something Administration was not about to make the decision on but would bring the issue back to Council for discussion.

“It’s not something (we want) to force Council to decide without discusssions on that,” Puffalt said. “There are certainly safety considerations we want to bring back to Council.”

Administration also would be “consulting with the bus drivers on that,” he said.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said fees for taking transit should be charged once the City restores the regular service and that a mask policy should follow the same rules as the local school divisions.

“If we are going to re-instate the regular transit service we should reinstate it (charging fares),” Mayor Tolmie said adding the City should require riders in Grade Four and above to wear masks while riding a bus.

“Grades four and up are required to wear masks,’ he said.

Councillor Dawn Luhning said although compulsory mask wearing is controversial it is an issue Council needs to address not just on buses but in City-owned facilties as well.

“I do think this Council, this Administration needs to have a conversation especially around the buses…so maybe we should have even if it is a teams meeting…or special Executive (Committee) meeting. I dont know it is just a thought. I think we need to have a discussion what we need to mandate at our public facilities and especially the buses for the safety of everyone really,” Councillor Luhning said.

Councillor Warrent said the issue needed to be dealt with before Council meets again on September 8th.

“I do want to point out the next regular meeting is September 8th that is the day school starts. I think we need to have this conversation well in advance of that.”

Council then decided unanimouisly to begin charging fares for transit before September 8th.

Puffalt said Administration would prepare a report for Council to review on the compulsory wearing of masks at City facilities and buses for a special meeting to discuss the issue. No date was set for the meeting.

Although not mandatory the controversial issue of compulsory wearing of masks in public buildings is something the Saskatchewan Health Authority has alluded to even goiing so far as to issue guidelines on how to properly wear a mask.

Locally several larger businesses have policies making mask wearing mandatory in their premises. They include The Bank of Montreal, Staples, People’s Jewellers, Superstore and WalMart.