Peace River is not ready to make a decision when it comes to the discussion on whether face masks should be mandatory.
A briefing note was before town council last night on the topic and everyone around the table suggested the town needs more information before a decision can be made.
Councillor Byron Schamehorn says this is an opportunity to do a thorough and comprehensive consultation with the community.
“We have done this before on everything from painting utility boxes downtown to whatever,” says Schamehorn.
“The ultimate goal is that masks do help – and they do – and to increase the incidents of people wearing masks, then we can probably do that without the use of a bylaw.”
Councillors Orren Ford and Colin Needham both indicated that the town does not need to regulate mask usage.
Ford suggested that such decisions should be made on a regional basis and Alberta Health Services should be the one making the call.
Mayor Tom Tarpey says it was always the plan of the town to consult as much as possible.
“We will get comments from the public and proceed from there,” he says.
He also said that the Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce will be part of the consultation.
“The chamber, as an organization, can put in comments,” explains Tarpey.
Town Council is represented on the chamber’s board of directors by Johanna Downing.
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
