(File photo/paNOW News)

By Nigel Maxwell and Ian Gustafson

Prince Albert reacts to mandate lifting

Feb 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Premier Scott Moe has announced the requirement to show proof of vaccinations will end on Valentine’s Day; a move that appears to be getting a lot of love from Saskatchewan’s Gateway to the North.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne confirmed for paNOW the city will follow the province’s lead.

“So when you go to the Raiders games or the library and other civic facilities, you’ll no longer have to show proof of vaccination,” he said.

Noting he thinks a lot of people will be happy to no longer have to show proof of vaccination, Dionne also raised a personal concern he had.

“The major hurdle I’ve heard personally is [COVID patients] continue to fill our hospitals and delay people that need surgery and treatment,” he said.

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At the end of the month, the requirement to mask indoors and mandatory self isolation will come to an end. Dionne encouraged people to get vaccinated

“We got to where we are today because 85 per cent have received their first dose and 80 per cent have received their second dose. Vaccination does work and I just encourage people to continue on with their plan,” he said.

P.A. Chamber of Commerce

Patricia Hughes, CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce told paNOW the chamber respects and support the decision of policymakers and CMHO officials to lift these mandates.

“It is a positive sign that we have moved into a different phase of the pandemic,” she said.

Hughes went on to explain business owners and employers have the freedom to continue to implement masking, distancing and rapid testing in their places of business and will do so based on the risk tolerance of their employees and customers.

“Nobody knows or understands the needs of their employees and customers better than a business owner. Their success turns on being responsive to the needs and expectations of people connected to the business,” Hughes said. “As always, they will assess risk, weigh the feedback of their employees and customers, and do what’s required to keep people safe, comfortable and coming back again and again.”

Hughes also noted many businesses have opened new channels to serve their customers over the last two years. Whether it’s in-person or online, customers have many options to support their local favourites.

Local restaurant

Owner of Dr. Java’s Coffee House Brandy Mogg said it will be a relief for staff to no longer have to ask for proof of vaccination as it can sometimes be an inconvenience to both customers and staff, however, she also raised other concerns.

“I think there’s maybe a few concerns with the lifting of all restrictions. On the positive side business might pick up but there’s also the concern that maybe it will slow down even more if people are no longer feeling like they’re protected to come out that they might may be more resistant to.”

She hopes this will not be the case and know with their customers regardless of the mandates the public should know they’re still taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She hopes other businesses will do the same and be diligent but believes the time has come for us to learn to live with COVID-19 as our new normal.

She explained much like the last time some restrictions were lifted, she expects there to be an even split of people who want the restrictions lifted and those who want them to remain in place.

She is still undecided as a business if they will require staff to continue to wear masks but said it’s likely they will continue to mask a little bit passed the mandate out of respect for the customers.

Local retail store

Local Canadian Tire owner Malcolm Jenkins said they have a lot of people who come through their doors every day, so they have to go with the majority and keep everyone safe. If another variant comes out in three weeks and the rules change again, the Canadian Tire will change with them.

“In a perfect world I could set up a super safe place and say nobody’s coming in without three masks on and I lose all by business,” he said. “So what’s the point of being super safe, we have to be realistic.”

He also hopes Premier Moe is listening to his medical staff and if the team is saying it’s fine, Jenkins agrees with Moe’s decision.

He said they’re suggesting very strongly to their staff to continue to wear masks because the threat doesn’t go away overnight but will not require customers to wear one unless they want to.

“If there’s no mandate then there’s no mandate. People come in they want to wear a mask I think they’re very smart. In fact, I recommend wearing two. But if they don’t want to wear a mask, I’m not going to get into a fight with them,” Jenkins said.

He said they’re in the business of keeping 40,000 customers happy and will not be taking one side or the other in terms of those for and opposed to lifting the mandates.

“We’ve gone along with the rules, and I thought they were good sound rules all along. I just wonder if it’s a little early to be changing that because I hear the viral load in the effluent in the river has gone up somewhat in the last week and going the wrong way,” he added.

He said they are crossing their fingers and hope the provincial government has made the right decision.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow