BATTLEFORD — Reports of a lack of enforcement of masking requirements at Battleford Arena made their way to Battleford town council Monday.
Council spent several minutes at the end of the meeting considering what their next move would be regarding enforcing the mask rules at the arena.
Mayor Ames Leslie said the province is responsible for enforcement of the rule, not the municipality.
“If we feel there is a mask problem at the rink, we can get in contact with the province. It is a province rule, and it’s enforceable by the province and by the province only. We can ask people to leave but we can’t enforce the masking rule.”
The concerns about mask enforcement at Battleford Arena has been raised publicly by residents. In a Jan. 8 Facebook post directed to the town, one local resident described what he had seen at a recent game.
“Masking is currently mandatory in all public places. Why is this not being enforced in town of Battleford owned venues? I attended a Beaver Blues hockey game at the Battleford Arena tonight. There was a large, densely-packed crowd. Probably half the crowd wore masks to get past the ticket wicket, then either dropped them to their chins or removed them completely once in the seating areas. Left after 15 minutes of observing this illegal and irresponsible behavior, as I cannot afford either health wise at age 75, or as operator of a one-person business, to catch this virus.”
At Monday’s meeting, Leslie pledged to reach out to provincial counterparts regarding the issue, but emphasized it was not something their employees have the power to enforce.
Councillor David George was incredulous at the idea that the town’s employees at the rink could do nothing about it.
“If we can’t do anything and the province won’t come on a Saturday night, what’s the point?” said George. “That’s just disrespectful to everybody else that’s wearing a mask as far as I’m concerned.”
“I don’t disagree with you,” Leslie interjected.
One recourse that was floated at the meeting was that if people were asked to leave and then refused, then the RCMP could be brought in.
But Chief Administrative Officer Ash Alam noted masking policy was not enforceable by the RCMP, either. The only ones who could enforce it are he health inspectors.
“Technically, RCMP could refuse that call to help to enforce that,” said Alam.
Mayor Leslie pledged to get more information and get back to council in the “next couple of days."
