Calgary declares new emergency
Nenshi threatens hefty fines for anyone ignoring latest provincial health rules
As the City of Calgary declared a new state of local emergency following public health measures announced by the province, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi warned violators of social-gathering rules to expect hefty fines, as the time for education over enforcement has passed.
It's the second time since the pandemic began that the city has declared a state of emergency. It previously did so in March, with the measure ending in June.
A state of local emergency gives the head of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency power to make orders that are implemented right away. It could also help the city restock pandemic supplies and access funding from other levels of government.
As of Wednesday, there were 5,028 active COVID-19 cases within Alberta Health Services' Calgary zone, where 188 people have died since March due to infection.
“Undoubtedly, we're in a pretty serious emergency,” Nenshi said Wednesday.
“Whether you think the provincial government is going too far or not far enough, it doesn't really matter right now.
“What really matters is how we act and what we do together in order to make this work.”
He said the city's hospitals are quickly reaching capacity. In the Calgary zone, 121 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, including 20 in intensive care.
CEMA chief Tom Sampson said the state of local emergency would allow the city to procure essential supplies needed for its response.
The measure would help local officials act to protect “the most vulnerable in the city,” he added.
Sampson said he fully supports the measures announced by the province and encouraged Calgarians not to “look for new loopholes.”
The measures, announced by Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday, target various types of social gatherings and impose new rules for businesses, schools and places of worship. Kenney rejected calls to implement a more widespread lockdown across the province.
As part of those new orders, indoor social gatherings in any setting, including workplaces and homes, are banned across Alberta.
Outdoor social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Indoor social contact should be limited to those within a single household. Those who live alone are permitted up to two non-household social contacts.
Funeral services and wedding ceremonies are limited to 10 in-person attendees. Receptions are not allowed.
The measures will be in place until further notice.
Kenney said 40 per cent of traceable COVID-19 cases are connected to social gatherings in Alberta.
“I know people are concerned with the increased cases and the new measures,” Sampson said. “But we've been here before and I believe if we all work together — we fully support the measures and get behind the spirit of these new restrictions — that we can make a positive impact.”
The local state of emergency also gives Calgary officials the ability to more easily issue their own orders without council's approval. But Nenshi said that route is not being contemplated “at this moment.”
Any such city order would seek to complement “what the province has done.”
Nenshi said it's “critical” for Calgarians to obey the province's new restrictions, adding the city “will not hesitate to enforce on that.”
“You don't have that choice, I'm sorry to say,” he said.
“It is the law. You must follow the law.”
Not following mandatory restrictions could result in fines of up to $1,000 per offence and up to $100,000 through the courts, according to the province.
Kenney said the province would look to expand the number of enforcement officers designated to enforce public health orders, which would likely include some peace officers.
While Calgary Police Service officers already have the ability to issue tickets for violations of provincial health orders, Nenshi said he expects transit and bylaw officers to be able to do so as well within the next day or two.
“If you're going to be flagrantly putting people's health at risk, expect to get a big ticket,” said Nenshi, who added there's no shame in phoning 311 to complain about an illegal gathering next door.
“We're always about education before enforcement, but if you don't know by now, there's no point in educating you anymore. It's been nine months. Everybody knows what the rules are.”
Asked if the province's new rules went far enough, Nenshi said he didn't “want to get into a jurisdictional battle.” But he pointed out two examples of measures he felt could be strengthened if it were up to him.
“I don't understand why casinos are open. That one doesn't make any sense to me,” the mayor said.
“If the premier asked me today, `what else do you think we can do' … I would say `you might want to make the gathering limits a bit lower' and I would ask him about the casinos.”