Regina city council tables potential mandatory mask bylaw report

City councillorstabled a motion that would have seen city administration and provincial health officials get together and prepare a report on a mandatory mask bylaw.

Although the motion didn't go ahead as written, it was tabled with the caveat that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and city administration would still get together to discuss the implications of a bylawand how the city could improve on communication with residents regarding mask use. Mayor Michael Fougere said a report on that could be expected back in September.

Coun. Andrews Stevens (Ward 3) brought the motion forward and said he's disappointed it was tabled.There's no indication when the motion might come back up for discussion.

Mandatory mask policies are already in place at many businesses across Regina.Starting Monday, masks are mandatory for all Regina Transit bus passengers.

Stevens said it's possible councillors were avoiding what he knows is a controversial or difficult topic.

"This motion is important because it would have allowed us to prepare," Stevens said.

"If we see a spike again, I think we're going to regret this decision."

• Regina city council to debate making masks mandatory in public indoor spaces

Administration could have come back with recommendations, a threshold or trigger number of cases could have been established so councillors could better know when it would have been appropriate to reconsider mandatory masks, he said.

"My hope, however, is that this puts city administration and experts at the Saskatchewan Health Authorityin the same room to talk about the implications of a bylaw," he said.

"When should masks be mandatory, what would a more effective communication strategy look like?"

Nearly all the councillors thought the motion as it stood should not go ahead at this time. But many of them mentioned they think an education campaign is missing, and could be explored.

Fougere was the person who suggested the motion be tabled. He had previously said he hoped a mandatory mask policy would be implemented, but numbers are down now, Fougere said Monday.

"What we want to do is make sure that we don't over-regulate. We just feel that because of the compliance that's happening right now with residents, let's just not go that way right now."

Fougere said he wears his mask when he's inside in a public areaor will sometimes put it on outside when physical distance can't be maintained.