(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Shopping during COVID-19

Mayor looks to suspend ban on plastic bags during pandemic

May 20, 2020 | 10:00 AM

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne wants to put the city’s upcoming ban on plastic bags on hold until after the provincial COVID-19 state of emergency is over.

Enforcement of the bylaw prohibiting stores from distributing plastic checkout bags is set to begin in August.

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Greg Dionne indicated he’d like to see that date pushed back.

“Lots of stores are not accepting recycled bags because of the condition of some of them,” Dionne told paNOW after the meeting. “I do understand that it’s a health issue. So we’ll continue on with plastic bags until COVID-19 is over.”

Dionne said he brought the notice of motion to suspend the bylaw after consulting with the provincial health authority on the issue.

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“If it wasn’t for COVID-19 we wouldn’t be budging, but it’s a thing that you can spread germs by touching,” he said. “So we don’t want [people] to bring them to the store.”

Prince Albert city council will discuss whether to temporarily suspend the ban on plastic checkout bags at a future council meeting.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom