City mask bylaw is a powerful tool

By Letter to the Editor on June 18, 2021.

Editor:
Councillor Hyggen has once again attempted to quash the city’s mask bylaw. His previous argument alongside two other councillors, was that a provincial wide mask mandate negated the usefulness of a local mandate.
With the provincial government poised to lift the mask bylaw in early July, Hyggen’s argument is now moot.
He cites low case loads, increasing vaccinations and widespread compliance throughout the city as evidence of progress. That is certainly true but there are two important details to consider.
The first to quote the councillor himself, is that most people are wearing masks in accordance with the law, which is exactly correct but to assume this will continue sans a legal requirement is naive.
Consider for a second, removing speed limits on highways and see how many folk continue to drive at speeds considered safe. The law is a powerful tool.
Second, our premier and health minister have stated several times that we have “crushed” this virus. We most certainly have not and with the rise of more dangerous variants and soon to be voluntary mask wearing, another wave could well be on the horizon.
Thank goodness, sound medical advice and reasoning was followed by a majority on city council – as a result, we will continue to have one more line of defence against a weakened but still dangerous opponent.
John P. Nightingale
Lethbridge