This story has been updated to include comment from St. Albert city councillors
St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron has called a special council meeting for Monday morning to discuss mandatory masks.
A Zoom meeting has been organized from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on July 27 to hear information from city administration on the topic of mandating face coverings in or near public places, and for council to consider any related motions, according to a notice posted to the city’s website Friday.
A Friday morning email obtained by the St. Albert Gazette indicates information on administration's recommendations may not be available to councillors prior to the meeting.
“It may end up being a walk-on,” the email reads. A “walk-on” means councillors would get the background and documents the morning of the meeting.
This news came shortly after the City of Edmonton decided to make masks mandatory on public transit and inside city facilities starting Aug. 1. That decision was made after Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson called an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon.
Edmonton city council will meet again Wednesday to consider a bylaw to require face coverings in all indoor spaces, including private businesses, Iveson said.
Calgary city council also voted earlier this week to pass a temporary bylaw requiring face coverings at all indoor public premises and on public transportation on Aug. 1.
The City of St. Albert's meeting is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, meaning any potential speakers would have had to register by 12 p.m. on Friday to weigh in on discussions, according to revised city regulations on addressing council.
On Friday afternoon, Heron posted a Facebook message about the meeting, asking for public feedback on whether masks should be mandatory in all indoor public spaces.
Councillors weigh in
Coun. Ken MacKay said before he moves toward mandating face coverings in St. Albert, he wants to see more evidence-based background information. Public input would also be important, he said.
“I think it's very important that we engage with the public and get feedback, because there are individuals out there that will not be able to wear a mask for a variety of personal and/or medical reasons,” he said.
“These are things that we're going to have to really wrestle with and determine which direction we want to go. Because I’m certainly hearing from both sides.”
Coun. Wes Brodhead said he recognizes the need for the region to have a consistent approach on mandatory face masks if municipalities are taking the lead on it, but wants to make his decision based on “the best information possible.”
“I’m not sure what administration is going to bring forward on Monday morning. But having said that, it'll be an interesting debate to be sure,” he said.
“I'm not sure I've totally made up my mind because I need to be open to see what happens and what other councillors bring to the table on Monday.”
Coun. Sheena Hughes said she was “disappointed” that a discussion on mandatory masks is “being rushed.”
Organizing an emergency meeting for Monday morning does not give councillors enough time to review necessary background information or fully consider the complexities of the issue before being asked to make a decision on it, she said.
The public is also not being given enough time to provide input, Hughes added.
With two active COVID-19 cases in St. Albert, Hughes said “mandating masks is not an emergency.”
Thirty-nine people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic in St. Albert, with 36 of those people now recovered. One person has died in St. Albert from the virus to date.
“It could have been done in proper time to go through the material and allow proper input before making a decision,” she said.
Coun. Jacquie Hansen said she is glad the city is having the conversation on mandatory masks and is looking forward to the debate.
“The sooner the better from my perspective,” she said.
While she believes the conversation is timely, calling a meeting for Monday morning doesn’t give a lot of time for public input, though Hansen said she has received numerous emails on the issue from residents on both sides.
“It may be on Monday we receive this information and no decision was made, or maybe there will be a decision. I’m sure the public does have a lot to say about this, but with the timing of the meeting on Monday, it’s difficult to get a full understanding,” she said.
Mayor Heron was not available for comment. The Gazette has also reached out to councillors Natalie Joly and Ray Watkins.
Changing perspectives
In a July 22 Gazette article, Heron said the city would look to follow the province’s lead on mandatory masks.
"You don't get co-ordination, you don't get buy-in, you don't get compliance. You get a lot of confusion," she said, adding people travel between municipalities constantly in the St. Albert area. Different rules for different regions wouldn't work, she noted.
On Wednesday, Heron answered a question about mandatory masks during an Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) media availability.
“The conversation is not a ‘no’, but we haven't made any decisions yet. And I would hope to approach this at a regional level,” she said.
On Thursday evening, Heron tweeted that mayors from other mid-sized cities had a “robust” discussion about mandatory masks.
“Super frustrated that 22 mid-sized + 2 big cities scrambling different directions on an issue that is completely outside our jurisdiction. Health is a provincial responsibility. Looking for leadership from (Government of Alberta),” she wrote.
Mid-sized mayors had a robust discussion re: mandatory masks. Super frustrated that 22 mid-sized + 2 big cities scrambling different directions on an issue that is completely outside our juristiction. Health is a provincial responsibility. Looking for leadership from GOA
— Cathy Heron (@CathyHeron) July 23, 2020
