Michael Morgan is explaining why he voted in favour of a mandatory face-coverings bylaw on first reading, and opposed it on the second reading.
The High Level Councillor says the prospective bylaw needs to be clearer.
“The first reading is procedural,” states Morgan.
“In order to move the mask bylaw along, we have to approve first reading, and that allows us to put it out to members of the public to gain feedback.”
At the council meeting on August 24, the bylaw did pass its first reading but was defeated on the second reading.
Morgan tells the Trending 55 Newsroom that he voted against the bylaw on the second reading because he felt there was a part of the bylaw that was not clear.
He was referring to line three of the rule, which states, “A person at all times must wear a facemask while in a public premises or a public vehicle.”
“It just says ‘public premises’ and I did not think it was clear enough and I did not want to pass the bylaw with that wording,” explains Morgan.
Morgan did say he is not against a mask bylaw overall.
“I am not against the idea of wearing masks in public; I just think it needs to be more clear as to where they are required and where they are not required, “he says.
“I think that is where a lot of the conflict stems from is people don’t understand where masks are required and not required.”
Last week, High Level mayor, Crystal McAteer said that one of the councillors who voted against bylaw would have to bring the former bylaw.
Mandatory mask bylaw in High Level defeated on second reading
- Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
