Will Calgary reinstate its mask bylaw?

CALGARY – As Calgary deals with an increase in COVID-19 cases–and as the province looks to scale back its pandemic protections–some are wondering if the city will reinstate masking rules.

At least two councillors are open to the idea of bringing back Calgary’s mask bylaw, which was rescinded at the beginning of July.

Ward 7 Councillor Druh Farrell says on Twitter that she is not prepared to give up on safety.

@DruhFarrell makes a great point that #yyccc showed leadership in the face of provincial inaction last year. We will continue to look out for Calgarians. Admin is monitoring the situation carefully & will update us on steps we must take for your public safety. https://t.co/GWhxb4rZKE

— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) July 31, 2021

“Calgary first implemented the mask bylaw ahead of the province and we saw immediate and widespread compliance. I’m not prepared to simply give up and let the province put people in harm’s way,” she wrote.

Mayoral candidate and Ward 3’s Jyoti Gondek echoed Farrell’s comments online, adding that council will continue to look out for Calgarians.

“Admin is monitoring the situation carefully and will update us on steps we must take for your public safety,” Gondek said.

She’s calling for an emergency council meeting to discuss whether or not to bring back the mandate.

Gondek also hopes those on council will take a harder stance against the province.

“I hope my colleagues who said things like ‘I trust the premier and Dr. Deena Hinshaw’, will reconsider the fact that those two people just let down an entire province and are making us look ridiculous on a global stage.”

She’s urging the city to do regular COVID-19 updates in place of the updates the province used to do.

“One of the measures that we can track [with COVID-19] is wastewater and that’s something that the city has the ability to do. So, one of the other asks I have of Mayor Nenshi and [CEMA] Chief Sue Henry is a daily update to Calgarians on what those numbers are looking like because if we have no data coming from the provincial government we need to share what little we have this Calgarians so they can make informed decisions.”

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Gondek has been critical of the Kenney government’s plan to remove the remaining COVID-19 protections.

Last week, quarantine for close contacts shifted from mandatory to recommended.

Later this month, isolation following a positive COVID-19 test will no longer be required, although strongly recommended, and quarantine support will no longer be available.

Province-imposed masking mandates will also be lifted.

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Testing will soon only be available for Albertans with symptoms when it is needed to help direct patient care decisions and public health will shift its focus to investigating severe cases of COVID-19.

Gondek has called the move an “abdication of responsibility” that would put Albertans at risk.

1/Waiting for the Kenney government to actively come for you before accepting the gravity of our situation under this blasted regime? Wake up.

This abdication of responsibility by lifting all COVID precautions puts us all at risk. Is this what “we’re all in it together” means? https://t.co/kEjazXskv2

— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) July 29, 2021

“Early on, Premier Kenney and his soulless government declared war on nurses, doctors, teachers, unions and countless other groups. Now they are declaring war on science and public safety measures. And we will all pay the price. It’s a dangerous game that no one wins,” she had commented.

3/It’s a diabolical play, where no longer measuring cases & transmission means not having to own up to a failed pandemic management plan. It’s weak & deceitful. It will cost people’s lives. Don’t ever forget how little this government cares for you.

— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) July 29, 2021

“It’s a diabolical play, where no longer measuring cases and transmission means not having to own up to a failed pandemic management plan. It’s weak and deceitful. It will cost people’s lives. Don’t ever forget how little this government cares for you.”

Last week’s announcement from the provincial government has drawn wide criticism, with several doctors and medical agencies voicing concern.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi called the plan “the height of insanity“.

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The province has defended its plan.

As of the Friday before the long weekend, there were 990 active cases in the Calgary health zone, the most in the province, with 45 people in the hospital and 14 in the ICU.

-with files from Chris Bowen