Mask debate unlikely before Dec. 7
While some councillors say a special meeting on the issue is in order, the mayor is reluctant to call one, and without his order, five of eight council members would have to formally request it
Several city councillors say Medicine Hat needs to quickly address a local mask bylaw to help halt rising COVID rates, but procedure and the mayor are delaying a debate on the issue.
Mayor Ted Clugston confirmed Thursday that he will not call a special council meeting to discuss a bylaw before its regular meeting on Dec. 7.
That will be about two weeks after councillors left an in-camera strategy session on Monday generally expecting the province would bring in an Alberta-wide ban the following afternoon.
When new health measures only included indoor mask rules for Calgary and Edmonton — which have municipal mask bylaws already — several councillors said they would like to move up the issue.
“Time is of the essence and council should rise to the occasion,” said Coun. Robert Dumanowski. “If we ask a greater portion of the public to contribute to the effort, then health and lives will be saved.
“It’s incumbent on council to address an issue that’s at the forefront for the public.”
He said the mayor should call a special council meeting early next week, but Clugston told the News he is committed to the initial timeline.
“I was considering it (a special meeting),” Clugston said Thursday. “There will be a chance to debate it in an open meeting on Dec. 7.”
The mayor backed a city publicity effort at the Nov. 16 meeting aimed at getting Hatters to voluntary adhere to health guidance, but also said he was unsure about mandatory measures after Medicine Hat had seemingly done well previously under voluntary compliance. Determining support on council for a local bylaw, or altering the timeline, is complex.
Based on past comments, a majority support wearing masks in general, and might support a local mask bylaw if it came to a vote.
However, about half appear committed to seeing if a voluntary call for citizens to wear masks and adhere to other health measures brings rising case numbers under control.
That math makes it difficult to force the issue to a special meeting, which would require an official request from five of eight council members who are not the mayor.
According to the city’s procedure bylaw, the mayor has the power to unilaterally call a special meeting on topics off urgent nature on 24-hours notice.
Coun. Julie Friesen said she supports a mask bylaw but adds that securing a clear majority or moving the process ahead is tricky.
“I am saddened to see how divisive this has become in the community and on council,” she said. “(Special meetings are called at) the mayor’s prerogative ... I’d be happier debating it sooner rather than later.”
Coun. Kris Samraj said he doesn’t question masks’ effectiveness, but has argued a local bylaw could be ineffective in problem areas of indoor social gatherings in private homes.
“It’s fairly straight forward that they stop the spread,” he said, restating his opinion masks may detract from other measures.
“My big question is whether a municipality should be going above and beyond what health authorities recommend.
“I’m comfortable waiting (for Dec. 7). The province has just announced substantial new restrictions and it can take up to two weeks to see those effects.”
Coun. Phil Turnbull said Thursday that the issue is headed to council “no matter what,” and support for a special meeting would likely grow if cases spiked “wildly.”
“My own thought is ‘if we’re going to debate it in a week, why not get it over with?’,” he said. “It’s obviously a very important issue for both sides, so why not deal with it, and get to a ‘yes’ vote or a ‘no’ vote?”
Coun. Darren Hirsch said on Nov. 16 he would support a mask bylaw if voluntary measures weren’t working after several weeks.
At that time, Coun. Jamie McIntosh said it was “concerning” that council wasn’t debating it as soon as possible.
Coun. Jim Turner has been supportive of the government’s approach for voluntary compliance, questioning mask effectiveness, but also stating that avoiding economic lockdown was paramount.
Coun. Brian Varga has taken a role in the city’s ad campaign asking Hatters to “ACT Now” to stop the transmission to avoid harsh lockdown measures.
Clugston told the News on Tuesday night he had expected to see province-wide rules come into place — which would supersede a local bylaw.
During a radio interview the next morning he stated public opinion appeared split on the issue, but was trending toward no local bylaw more recently.
Dumanowski says he has received more emails and calls from residents on this issue than “at any other time in 20 years on council,” and a “clear majority” are in favour of local bylaw.