Leaders of the Battlefords community reacted in a largely positive manner to Premier Moe's announcement, though several questions are on their minds. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Welcoming consistency

Battlefords leaders weigh in on masking, vaccine announcement

Sep 16, 2021 | 6:40 PM

A mixture of satisfaction, disappointment and curiosity has hit the Battlefords since the Government of Saskatchewan’s announcement on Thursday afternoon.

Mandatory masking is returning to all public indoor spaces and the province will implement a proof of vaccination standard in October. It also repeals mask mandates implemented by municipalities. North Battleford Mayor David Gillan said the announcement adds consistency and will help make sure everyone is following the same guidelines.

“I’m not surprised after seeing Alberta’s announcement, I expected something to follow,” he said. “There’s a lot of details to sort out, but I’m happy that we have restrictions in general.”

Gillan said council is mulling over plans for future council meetings and other matters in the City affected by the reversal in direction by the province. His message to residents for now is to adhere to this new guidance and he encouraged those not yet vaccinated to follow suit.

“I’m vaccinated myself and I believe when we do reach certain milestones as a percentage of population that the infection rates will be manageable and we can live with this virus,” he said.

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Mayor’s David Gillan and and Ames Leslie welcomed the announcement from the province on masking and vaccination. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie also saluted the announcement from the province, saying that it answers questions of how to actually enforce mask use in facilities.

“Now that the RCMP and public health can be leaned on to help support the municipalities and other facilities, we welcome that change,” he said. “I hope it doesn’t come to enforcement and everyone is compliant with this ask.”

Leslie said the public response coming ahead of this move was mixed. Reportedly, council has heard from roughly 10 per cent of the population that think the mandate is criminal and from another 10 per cent that say it’s criminal to not have one. However, he added they haven’t heard from the other 80 per cent of residents.

“It’s difficult to fully understand the scope of how people are feeling,” Leslie said. “The majority of people have not publicly voiced their thoughts on this.”

One aspect the Battleford mayor was most pleased with was that the province allowed an alternative to those still hesitant to get vaccinated. Anyone who has not received their two doses will have to provide proof of a recent negative test.

“It does give you the option, so it’s not a one-and-done, violation of people’s health choices,” Leslie said.

Moving forward, he added he will support loosening or tightening of restrictions, depending on where the COVID-19 numbers in the province are in the coming weeks and months. While Leslie stressed the importance of slowing down the rate of transmission, he also noted that being able to have adult conversations about the situation will make a difference, with local dialogue among some already ugly.

“No one person is better of that the other,” he said, citing that more than 20 per cent of new positive cases are from those vaccinated. “We have to come together.”

(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Business community also mixed

Given the announcement’s details on businesses, members of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce will have to particularly search for guidance heading into October.

Chamber COO Linda Machninak said the reaction so far has been mixed, both amongst her staff and local business owners. However, she noted that people had been thinking about this possibility well before the announcement.

“I think it’s disappointing that we’re going back that way, but I was in businesses last week where people were saying that we should go back to a mandate,” Machniak said. “Many hadn’t lifted the mandate for their employees anyway, so now the impact will be directed more so at customers.”

Many businesses will also be more prepared to adjust to restrictions this time, given many have continued to some practiced and kept resources from the past year.

“I can’t imagine that businesses divested themselves completely of PPE and cleaning processes that were in place,” Machniak said. “Everybody pretty much has some or will be getting some more for their business.”

Given the mask mandate is in place till at least late October, Machniak believes this will provide the province time to identify whether it could be extended. She is also intrigued to hear about the proposed antigen testing and curious to see the distribution plan in the province.

“There’s certainly lots to be unpacked from this announcement today,” she said. “Lots of work for business to do.”

One piece of relief Machniak said she and others have is that the mandate is less restrictive than Alberta’s, such as allowing for testing. While it is a requirement for employers to ensure workplace is safe, Machniak pointed to the importance of keeping the disclosure of personal information from becoming invasive.

“You don’t want it to be punitive to employees, so the collection of information has to be minimal as possible,” she said.

Some of the biggest questions the Chamber has for the upcoming governance is how sectors targeted for vaccination requirement will be impacted and how they adjust. Restaurants, night clubs and event venues are among a few that could feel a strain, with people limited in their options for going out. Machniak said it will be interesting to see if people decide to pass on eating out or hitting the gym based on vaccination and/or masking requirements.

“This is for safety, but it will be more restrictive [on many businesses], so we’ll see how much it impacts them.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW