As of Friday at noon, the town of Sackville will require people to wear masks in all indoor public areas of municipal buildings.
Town council decided to implement a mask policy for municipal buildings at their meeting on August 10th, as part of a strategy to increase mask use without actually pursuing a by-law requiring mask-wearing in the municipality.
CAO Jamie Burke says staff pointed out issues with pursuing a municipal by-law.
“Our council had quite a discussion about the potential to make masks mandatory throughout the community. You know, not just on municipal property, but, pushing that towards indoor private property as well. We, I guess, cautioned them that there’s legislative authority issues or enforcement issues. etc. So council didn’t do that. They decided to take a different approach.”
Another of the measures in the strategy was a letter from Mayor John Higham to Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell. In the letter sent August 17th, Mayor Higham asks Russell to reconsider New Brunswick’s public health rules when it comes to masks, and implement something more in harmony with Nova Scotia, where masks are required in all indoor public spaces.
Also in the strategy was the development of an inventory of how local businesses are handling the provincial rules on masks, which require them to be worn anytime 2 metres of distance can’t be maintained.
And finally, the plan included consideration for funds to purchase the tools that local businesses might need to help with implementing their mask rules.
The Town’s new mask rule will apply to all municipal buildings, including:
- town hall,
- the Visitor Information Centre (including the Sackville Craft Gallery),
- the Sackville Public Library,
- the Bill Johnstone Memorial Park Fieldhouse, and
- the Tantramar Veterans’ Memorial Civic Centre (upon opening to the public.)
In a news release from the Town, Mayor John Higham says he expects the mandatory mask rules to play a key role in protecting people who use the buildings, as well as setting an example for other organizations who may wish to implement a similar requirement.
Some stores in Sackville are asking patrons to wear a mask, including Rose’s Independent Grocer, Blooms Flower Shop, the Cranewood, and Dave’s Rock Emporium.
Jamie Burke is optimistic that mask buy-in is on the rise.
“There’s a few businesses that have also taken a bit of a softer approach. There’s some who, you know, have clearly posted on the door that it is mandatory. And, you know, I guess we’ll wait and see if others follow suit, But certainly, within the last few days and weeks, there’s been an increased amount of people wearing masks. So that’s definitely positive.”
On the Mount Allison campus, masks are required in all public spaces and while in transit between buildings.
