High Level Mayor Crystal McAteer admits she is disappointed in the outcome of a vote on a mandatory face coverings bylaw.
The perspective bylaw passed first reading, but was defeated on the second reading at Monday night’s council meeting.
“I am a little bit disappointed because we had a lot of people that were not for the mask bylaw,” says McAteer.
“We had about 30 businesses that had either been canvassed, or talked to me.”
High Level had a survey on its website that asked a variety of questions about masks, and the first one asked if respondents would support a mandatory face coverings bylaw in public places.
The results shown to council indicated that 52 percent of respondents would be in favour of mandatory masks.
Another question asked if you wore a mask in an indoor public space and 51 percent indicated that they did.
The final question asked people if masks work in reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19 and 57 percent agree that face coverings are a useful tool.
McAteer feels more time was needed to get more feedback from residents and business owners.
“The sad part is it never stopped at first reading,” states McAteer.
“That way, we could have gathered more information by sending our administration out to poll all the businesses and how it would affect them if they actually did get sick.”
The Mayor also says business owners have told her the effects of COVID-19 in their business could have serious impacts.
“The businesses would have to close down from anywhere between two and 14 days and anyone of them could stand to lose between $40,000 to $80,00 per-day,” explains McAteer.
She also tells the Trending 55 Newsroom that the mills, some hotels and grocery stores in high Level are in support of a mandatory mask bylaw.
“It was disappointing in the sense that they never got to have a public forum where they could say why they are for, or against, a bylaw,” she says.
She adds that she hopes to mask debate will come back again at a future date.
Click here for the agenda package for Monday’s council meeting, which includes the survey results.
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
