Hamilton to consider repealing mask bylaw at special council meeting next week
Published March 17, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Changes to the province’s masking requirements come into effect next week, but Hamilton’s masking by-law could make things confusing for residents.
Hamilton’s City Council is expected to hold a special meeting on Monday (March 21), the very day the province has pinpointed to start easing mask requirements, to discuss repealing the city’s Physical Distancing By-lawlaw and Face Covering By-law.
“Following the City’s Board of Health meeting on Monday, March 21, a Special Council meeting will be held to allow Council to consider repealing the City’s Physical Distancing By-law and Face Covering By-law,” the City noted in an email to media.
“It’s important to note that, under Provincial direction, masks will still be required in some settings including public transit, long-term care, retirement homes and other health-care settings, congregate care settings, shelters, jails and congregate care and living settings after March 21.”
The Board of Health is expected to receive an update from Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) at Monday’s meeting about the COVID-19 situation in the community at which time it is likely they will address the province’s latest directions.
Under the city by-law, introduced in the Spring of 2020, you have to wear a face-covering in most indoor settings.
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If the municipal bylaw remains in place, bylaw officers can still issue fines to people found to be in contravention.
Fines start at $200 and can go up from there if it is a repeat infraction.
Earlier this week, the Hamilton-Wentworth Public School Board issued an open letter calling on the city’s top doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, to issue a Section 22 order that will preserve a mask mandate in the board’s classrooms at least until early April.
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