(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Healthy communities

P.A. businesses support mandatory mask requirement

Nov 3, 2020 | 4:50 PM

Effective Friday, anyone entering a retail business, pharmacy or restaurant in Prince Albert, Saskatoon or Regina, will be required to wear a mask.

The retailer

The decision to make masks mandatory in all public indoor places was announced Tuesday by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). Prince Albert Canadian Tire Owner Malcolm Jenkins, told paNOW he fully supports the idea, adding both he and all his staff have already been wearing masks.

“The awkward thing is for retailers to say to people you have to wear a mask because there is the one or two per cent that don’t understand and can get quite belligerent and this makes it hard for our staff,” he said.

According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, compliance through education is the primary preference of public health. The SHA has advised as well that public health officials will closely monitor compliance and encourage all individuals, businesses and organizations to abide by the masking order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Enforcement options will be considered based on observed compliance with the order. Jenkins said he was not opposed to taking a hard stance.

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“Personally it’s my business and I’m going to take the position if you don’t have a mask, you can’t come in,” he said.

The cab driver

In addition to the retails outlets, the mandatory mask order also applies to public transport, which includes cabs, ride share services and carpooling. Family taxi owner Pardeep Saggar said he takes no issue with the health order, but explained his drivers have already been wearing masks, and the company has a number of health measures in place.

“Half of our taxis have those separation shields between the driver compartment and the passenger and we are not allowing people to sit in the front seat for now,” he said.

Saggar said he was unsure how he would enforce the new guidelines, but explained he planned to discuss it this week with his management team.

In early October, The Full Gospel Outreach Centre in Prince Albert was issued a $14,000 fine for violating public health orders and provincial COVID-19 guidelines. This followed a multi-jurisdictional outbreak of COVID-19 stemming from a series of outreach centre events held in Prince Albert from Sept. 14 to Oct. 4.

The pastor

Places of worship or faith gatherings will also be included with the order Friday.

Meghan Stead Mayer is the Pastor at Embassy Church and said she supports the mask requirement.

‘The numbers are climbing so if this is what we have to do to get them down, that’s OK,” she said.

Stead Mayer said members of the congregation have been doing a great job already wearing a mask, and for those who choose not to, they receive a polite reminder.

“From the stage we say it on a regular basis, ‘Wear your masks, wear your masks,’ so we definitely will have to continue to do that,” she said.

Stead Mayer added people who choose not to comply, will simply not be allowed in for services, but can still view what’s happening through a provided online option.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell