Thread by @CommonSenseYYC

Council has returned to debating the City's mandatory mask bylaw.

You can recap this morning's debate here:

https://twitter.com/CommonSenseYYC/status/1407015678737993731

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Councillor Farkas kicks off the debate by introducing a motion to repeal Calgary's mandatory mask bylaw on July 1st, the same day that the Province's requirement will be removed.

Councillor Farrell call this reckless and ridiculous.

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Councillor Woolley is also opposed. He says he's opposed to many of the positions the province has taken in this pandemic.

He also claims that Alberta has had the worst COVID outcomes in Canada. (That's not true, that is Quebec).

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Councillor Sutherland says he's talked to many businesses who are worried that if the Province removes their rule, but the City doesn't, that people will just ignore it.

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Councillor Sutherland also notes that repealing Calgary's rule doesn't stop anyone who wants to wear a mask from doing so.

If you want to keep wearing a mask, you're free to do so.

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Councillor Davison says Council shouldn't undermine the provincial and federal health experts.

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Mayor Nenshi says this isn't some existential debate, all we're talking about is a couple of extra weeks.

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The Mayor says waiting makes sense, and voting for Councillor Farkas' amendment is a bad idea.

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He also says there is a behavioral, rather than public health argument.

Once you remove restrictions, you remove the incentive for people to get their second dose, so you need to keep the restrictions to encourage people to get their second dose.

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Mayor Nenshi announces publicly that the Stampede will be requiring masks indoors, regardless of Council's decision today.

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Councillor Keating says every statement made by Councillor Farkas was either wrong or one of several other synonyms for wrong.

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Councillor Demong says he doesn't want to continue meddling in areas that are not the City's job or expertise - namely public health. The decision should be decided by experts. The City should just align with the province.

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"Who am I, as a City Councillor, to go against the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health."

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Councillor Gondek says the City has a duty of care over their staff and the citizens of Calgary.

Says the City has a responsibility to look after Calgarians.

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Councillor Carra is opposed to the amendment and says we don't need any ideological arguments about science or freedom.

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Councillor Farkas' amendment, to repeal the City's mask mandate on July 1st, at the same time as the Province, fails on a 7-7 tie.

Yes:

Farkas
Keating
Chu
Magliocca
Demong
Davison
Sutherland

No:

Nenshi
Gondek
Farrell
Woolley
Carra
Chahal
Colley-Urquhart

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Councillor Colley-Urquhart introduces an alternative motion to repeal the mask mandate at the end of July, if it's safe to do so.

Councillor Demong asks who will determine whether it is safe to do so. Perhaps the Chief Medical Officer of Health? 😂

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Council votes 8-6 to meet again on July 5th (after the Province's mandate expires!) to discuss this further...

Yes:

Nenshi
Gondek
Keating
Woolley
Carra
Chahal
Colley-Urquhart
Farrell

No:

Magliocca
Sutherland
Chu
Davison
Demong
Farkas

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