Manitoba health minister won't disavow anti-mask group that he says made 'good points' on use

Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen wouldn't condemn an anti-mask group from his constituency Friday, after taking heatfor saying theirmembers were "making some good points."

It ishis job as Morden-Winkler MLA to meet withpeople he represents, including those he differs with, he said in question period at the Manitoba Legislature on Friday.

"I will not condemn my constituents, but I will always say we can always learn from people we disagree with," Friesen said.

The health minister was repeatedly asked by the Opposition NDP Friday to disavow the group, which held a rally Tuesday to protest mandatory mask use in schools for students in Grade 4 and up.

Hundreds of people attended the protest outside the Garden Valley School Division office in Winkler.

The groupmet with school division leadership, Friesentold reportersThursday, and he also met separately with them.

"They're making some good points," he said.

Mask rules dependon distance between students

As an example, he noted thatparents questioned why students had to wear masks when they're seated, facing forward and 1.7 metres apart, but not when they're separated by two metres.

Public health advice in Manitoba and beyond has recommended at least two metres of distance between non-mask-wearing peopleto prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

"I think they're asking good questions," Friesen said of the parents."Butalsofrom my conversations with some of those group leaders, I also thought that they were seeking to comply and seeking to be reasonable."

He added he was "happy to seethat the rally was happening outdoors," and that Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin"has continued to say that the degree of spread is less likely outdoors."

Friesen also noted his constituency isn't subject to themask requirement in all indoor places that is currently in effect inthe Winnipegregion, where the number of positive cases issignificantly higher.

The health minister said he doesn't think there'sa surge in anti-mask sentiment in his constituency.

While insisting that mask use is an important precaution, on Friday, Friesenonce again said that theparentsgroup had "made some good points."

In question period, he referenced the group's worries about cancellingschool sportsand the needfor a doctor's note to exempt a child from mandatory masks.

NDP Leader Wab Kinewlater slammedFriesen's comments.

"I think any reasonable political advisorwould have told the minister of health that his job today would be to not repeat those terrible comments that he made that support the anti-maskmovement," Kinew said.

"Theminister of health is doubling down on these irresponsible comments."

Kinew said there's no room forequivocation on the subject offace coverings, which he calleda matter of life and death.

"The public health orders are clear: we need to be wearing masks, it is going to help stop the spread," he said.

"How is it that we have a minister of health in Manitoba who cannot unequivocally condemn the anti-maskmovement?"

FriesenaccusedKinew of trying to divide Manitobans, before urging the use of face coverings.

"If that member only meets with people in his constituency that he agrees with, I assure you he is the only member of the legislature," Friesen said.

"We've been clear: washing hands saves lives, infection prevention control saves lives, physical distancing saves lives and masks save lives."

The health minister said he didn't see his refusal to condemn the group asflirting with an anti-science crowd that's undermining public health advice, as Kinew put it.

"We meet with broad array of groups, some who challenge us on issues, on policies. This is the life ofa constituency office. It's what we signed up to do.

"And instead of hate, we prefer hope. Instead of disengagement, we choose engagement."

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont accusedFriesen of "repeating and amplifying" the opinions of anti-maskers.