CANMORE – Canmore's elected officials have voted unanimously to approve a bylaw that would make wearing masks or face coverings mandatory for indoor public settings in the community beginning noon Friday (Aug. 7).
All three readings of the temporary bylaw were approved Tuesday (Aug. 4) during a special meeting of council.
Mayor John Borrowman said there has been uncertainty around COVID-19 and how best to manage the new infectious disease in the community since the very first case was reported in Alberta on March 5.
"Frankly, I am disappointed the provincial government abdicated its responsibility to mange public health and left this to communities," Borrowman said.
"Municipalities don't typically have the capacity or resources to manage public health issues and we see this playing out in a number of communities across the province. Councils are having to take this on and it is very challenging.
"But I really genuinely feel that we need to be doing all that we can to prevent another significant increase to COVID-19 cases."
Councillor Joanna McCallum expressed concern that small businesses in the community would not be able to economically survive another lockdown if infection rates continue to increase.
"Canmore’s small businesses cannot wear through another shutdown," McCallum said. "It will kill our small business community in my opinion."
Councillors Karen Marra and Esmé Comfort spoke to how residents in the community have taken the time to reach out to elected officials and share their thoughts and feelings on what is happening, many in support of the bylaw.
"This may be the most serious matter we have considered in my two terms on council," Comfort said. "[This bylaw] signals to our population and our visitors that we care about your health and safety, not making your life more difficult."
Councilllors spoke to the fact that Canmore is a tourism-based economy that attracts visitors from around the province – including in record-breaking numbers since the beginning of phase one of the economic relaunch mid-May.
"This is what our community needs because we host very large numbers of visitors and we have very concerned residents about that visitor-resident interface," said Coun. Vi Sandford. "Alberta is showing up in [record] numbers and we need to do something more. I think a mandatory mask bylaw for indoor spaces is a very good step for our community."
Coun. Rob Seeley said he thinks Canmore has done well in terms of numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases so far. As of Tuesday, Canmore had zero cases. Banff and the MD of Bighorn also had zero confirmed cases.
"I think we have done a good job in the Bow Valley of reducing infection rates and I would like to see that continue," Seeley said. "We are a visitor-based economy, so additional measures are needed."
Coun. Jeff Hilstad expressed concerns about how there has been an increase in disposable mask littering and the risk those pose. He also had concerns about people putting on, wearing and removing masks properly.
However, Hilstad supported the bylaw because of the evidence presented that it can help reduce spread on a population basis when used in conjunction with other public health measures like physical distancing.
"With that in mind, it will be straight up annoying for certain people and it is not fun," he said. "But the fact is we are a tourist location and seeing droves coming from all over the province. It is the right thing to do."
Manager of protective services Greg Burt presented the bylaw to council, including a number of exemptions for the new requirement.
"In terms of restrictions and requirements included in the draft bylaw, a face covering must be worn in public premises and in public vehicles," Burt said.
"The bylaw has an extensive definition for public premises. Essentially it is inside areas where the public normally has access."
Exemptions are provided for: schools, daycares and preschools, seating areas inside eating establishments, areas inside a public premises that are only accessible by staff, children under the age of two, fitness activities and those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask.
Dr. Amy Tan, associate professor at the University of Alberta’s department of family medicine, was in front of council to address the issue from a medical evidence perspective and answer council's questions.
She said as the pandemic has evolved, so has the available science and evidence around the novel coronavirus. As a result, public health advice has also changed over time.
"Yes, there have been lots of mixed messages about masking," Tan said. "It has now been shown, on a population basis, that masks, and we are talking about re-usable cloth masks, can help as an additional layer of support."
At this stage, the best advice from experts is to avoid crowds, closed spaces and close contacts, while at the same time watching your distance from others, washing your hands regularly and wearing a mask.
Complicating the issue is the fact that some individuals with COVID-19 have very mild or no symptoms, and some can be asymptomatic and contagious for up to six days. Tan said that has contributed to the community spread of the disease.
"That is why masks are helping," she said, adding models have shown that if 80 per cent of people wear a mask it would be enough to drive down community spread.
Tan also recognized that as a tourism destination, Canmore is seeing visitation from areas all over the province, which changes the risk to possible community transmission.
"Even if community transmission for your residents is low, it is much higher in Calgary, Edmonton and southern Alberta," she said. "When they come on the weekend, it adds to it."
Municipal communications advisor Cara Hedin told council the approach to communication around the bylaw is focused on education.
"Since the bylaw itself comes form a place of education, we are really going to echo that place," Hedin said. "Our goal would be to create awareness about the mask bylaw and encourage residents, businesses and visitors to comply with the temporary bylaw."
Similar to Banff's bylaw, Canmore's requires businesses to post signage, but not to enforce the rules. Signage is available to download for free from the Town's website.
"This is such a big change for businesses that we would have a big push to connect directly with the local business community," Hedin said.
Burt told council at this time there is no budget for hiring mask ambassadors like Banff has done. He said with only four Bylaw peace officers, they will use their discretion when it comes to enforcement. However that is on top of the other priorities they are dealing with like increased visitation at Quarry Lake Park.
"As a community and as visitors, we are in this together and it is incumbent on all of us to do the right thing," he said.
The bylaw sets out specified penalty of $100 fine for breaching the it.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that children under one years old would be exempt from the mask bylaw. Children under the age of two are exempt.