While Alberta introduces new provincial measures, Mayor Gerald Aalbers and the City of Lloydminster will continue to follow SHA mandates. (file photo/Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Status quo

Alberta enacts state of emergency, Lloydminster following SHA mandate

Nov 24, 2020 | 8:56 PM

While the majority of Albertans adjust to new COVID-19 related restrictions in the province, residents in Lloydminster can stand pat.

The Government of Alberta enacted a state of public emergency Tuesday evening, following 1,115 new cases of COVID-19, the smallest day-over-day increase in almost a week. A number of measures were announced, including junior and high school students being sent home for the rest of 2020, a ban on all indoor social gatherings, outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people and mandatory mask wearing in all indoor workplaces. However, this mandate does not affect the Border City.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers said it’s important for all residents to remember that the entire city follows SHA’s prerogative. Because of the Lloydminster Charter, all public health matters for the city follow the Saskatchewan Health Act.

“No matter what happens in Alberta, Lloydminster will continue to follow the direction of SHA, Dr. Shahab and the province of Saskatchewan,” Aalbers said.

The new measures from Alberta go into effect Friday. A number of the measures, including mandatory masking in public places, is already in effect in Saskatchewan. Aalbers acknowledged it is often confusing for residents, visitors and business owners.

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“Laws do apply across the city,” he said. “Some issues may fall on the Alberta side, it just depends on the item as it relates to the Lloydminster Charter,”

Another item that falls on the Saskatchewan side of the ledger is municipal elections, which completed earlier this month. With four incumbent councillors, as well as former councillor Jason Whiting returning to local politics after being on council prior to 2016, Aalbers said this is a really great opportunity to move forward quickly this winter, instead of having a group that needed more time to adjust to City Hall.

“We’ve gone through orientation and we’ll be moving forward on a lot of projects in the city that may have taken a little more time as council got updated,” he said. “It’s terrific to have the group that we have elected to move forward.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports