'I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we'll figure out how'
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The province announced Thursday that 70 per cent of Albertans are now fully vaccinated, as Calgary city officials got ready to debate whether or not additional municipal measures need to be implemented to combat COVID-19.
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Restoring Calgary’s mask bylaw and mandating proof of vaccination in city-owned facilities are among the issues that will be on the table at city hall when council’s emergency management committee meets Friday afternoon.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he’s “lost any faith in the ability of the province to do anything” about the rising fourth wave of COVID, as city council is set to weigh whether to take steps themselves.
If there’s a push for the city to take action to address the pandemic, a special meeting could quickly be called to get the measures in place.
Nenshi blasted the UCP government’s lack of action Thursday, as active COVID cases increased to nearly 13,000 province-wide, with 487 people in hospital — more than double the number of hospitalizations in Alberta less than two weeks ago.
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“People are getting sick and dying, and this is not time for amateur hour. Ultimately, I hate that the city has to step in in areas of provincial jurisdiction, but if we have to keep people safe, we’ll figure out how,” he said. “I still remain hopeful that the province will step up to the plate and actually do its job.”
The province, meanwhile, issued a news release Thursday encouraging Albertans to get vaccinated with two shots.
“Vaccines take significant pressure off of our health system by reducing the severity of symptoms for the vast majority of people who are fully immunized,” Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said in the news release.
Earlier this summer on July 5, council quashed the bylaw requiring face coverings across Calgary’s public indoor spaces at a time when fewer than 1,000 active COVID cases existed across Alberta and daily case counts numbered dozens, not hundreds.
Nenshi said there has been more appetite among council members lately to restore the mandate, especially if the province doesn’t reinstitute mask rules.
Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart wrote on Twitter this week that “hundreds and hundreds” of Calgarians have emailed her asking for the mask bylaw to return. And at least one other councillor who voted in favour of lifting the mandate two months ago signalled support for its return.
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Coun. Jeff Davison said he’s been hearing “panic” from the public around COVID-19, and it’s time for council to discuss how to protect Calgarians, including potentially following Edmonton’s lead and restoring a mask bylaw.
Coun. George Chahal was among the four councillors who voted against lifting mask rules in July. At the time, he said he wanted to ensure Calgarians who were still waiting had a chance to get their first and second doses of a COVID vaccine.
“I’m hoping that we’ll have a conversation (Friday) and bring back the bylaw to ensure the health and safety of all Calgarians,” he said Thursday.
Face coverings are still currently required in any city-operated facilities, including recreation centres.
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Provincial rules require masks on public transit, in taxicabs and in ride-hailing vehicles.
Vaccinations
Some, including mayoral candidate Jan Damery, have been calling for the city to impose its own city-wide proof of vaccination policy in the absence of a provincial “vaccine passport” system like ones that have been rolled out in Manitoba, Ontario, B.C and Quebec.
But Nenshi said while council has the authority to require Calgarians be immunized against COVID to access city facilities, broadening that mandate to private businesses is trickier territory. Plus, the city would have to purchase an app or create its own system for verifying vaccination status.
Another topic the committee will tackle Friday is requiring vaccination for city employees.
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Officials are currently working on a system for regular, mandatory rapid tests for unvaccinated employees. But the City of Calgary hasn’t gone as far as some municipalities like Toronto, which now requires employees to be fully vaccinated or face discipline, including dismissal.
Calgary also has the option of returning to a state of local emergency. The city ended the previous state of emergency in mid-June after more than six months — by far the longest in Calgary’s history.
Nenshi said the enhanced co-ordination provided by a state of local emergency is essentially already happening, after 19 months of coping with the pandemic. Still, it’s a lever the city could choose to pull.
For now, he said regardless of any possible council decisions, he encourages Calgarians to wear masks in public spaces to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
“Whether or not there is a law, do the right thing for your own safety and the safety of those around you and wear a mask.”
Twitter: @meksmith
Nenshi says he's 'lost any faith' in province's COVID action as council prepares to talk pandemic - Calgary Herald
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