Toronto Set to Lift Mask Mandates

Well, here it is! Our inaugural municipal politics post! Let’s get into it:

Dr. Eileen De Villa, Toronto’s top doctor, stated on Wednesday that the city’s mask bylaw should be removed when the province revokes it’s own mask mandate later in March. The city council later amended bylaw 541-2020 to in-fact expire on March 21st, the same date as the provincial expiry. They did state that masks will continue to be mandatory in high-risk areas such as public transit, long-term care facilities, health-care facilities, shelters, and jails. Both Dr. De Villa and the city council both stated that they encourage each citizen to choose whether or not to wear a mask based on their own preferences and that they fully support any decision to continue wearing one once the mandate has ended. It is also a relief that the provincial government has not attempted to limit municipal governments’ ability to impose their own mandates as Premier Kenney has done in Alberta.

It remains to be seen whether or not we’re really out of the woods, but we remain as hopeful as ever. Here’s hoping to a great summer! One in which we are safely open for business.