THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay city councillor wants the use of face masks made mandatory in public spaces to lower the spread of COVID-19. If a motion from at-large councillor Aldo Ruberto is passed at council’s May 4 meeting, it will see the city ask provincial and federal governments to enact such a policy.
Reached by phone Tuesday, Ruberto said the policy had been effective in other parts of the world.
“One of the things that’s been shown in other countries is if everyone wore a mask, there’s very little chance of spreading the COVID-19 virus,” he said.
Public health bodies including the World Health Organization, the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health Canada initially discouraged the use of masks by the public, partly out of fears that private purchases would worsen supply shortages for health care workers.
That’s changed in recent weeks, with many public health agencies now recommending the wearing of masks in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.
While Ruberto believes people are beginning to catch on, saying he’s seen more residents wearing them in public recently, he said it may not be happening quickly enough.
Legislation would be “another tool in the toolbox” to help tamp down the spread of the virus, he said. Such a step is beyond the power of the city, however.
“The city does not have the authority to introduce that kind of legislation, it’s a provincial jurisdiction,” Ruberto explains. “What this resolution does is just ask the province to take it into consideration.”
“We recommend that City Council advocate for an Order in Council from the Province or federal legislation that requires the use of masks by all individuals in public spaces in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” his motion reads in part.
If passed, the city would send a copy of the resolution to the provincial and federal ministers of health, as well as the premier and prime minister.
Ruberto said any legislation should extend only to situations in which maintaining proper physical distance is impractical, such as a trip to the grocery store.
“Of course, if you’re outside just going for a walk with no one around, you don’t have to wear a mask,” he said.
City council will vote on Ruberto’s proposal at its next meeting on May 4.
