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Niagara Falls
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Letter: NOTL should follow Banff’s lead and mandate masks on Queen St.

Dear editor:

This is an open letter to Niagara-on-the-Lake town council.

This letter contains partial quotes from an article written by Carolyn Kury de Castillo of Global News. I recommend that the council and all residents and local merchants read the full article at https://globalnews.ca/news/7222652/banff-mandatory-masks-indoors-outdoors/.

First, many readers will be aware of the fact that Banff Avenue very much resembles NOTL's busy Queen Street, with the same attendant tourist overcrowding. Since June, two blocks of Banff Avenue have been closed off to allow for social distancing. Sound familiar? But it has been unlike our half-baked effort on Queen Street.

In addition to wearing masks inside, Banff council voted 7-0 on July 27 in favour of a bylaw that requires people to wear masks outdoors along that stretch of Banff Avenue, converted to a pedestrian mall. This is the first municipality in Canada to take such action. Masks outdoors!

This is called “leadership” and 90 per cent of Banff residents and merchants said: ” Please do this – and please do it now. “

As of July 27 there were eight active COVID-19 cases in Banff. They are obviously being proactive to help prevent the spread. As of Aug. 4, NOTL had nine active cases. 

How does Banff target the bad actors? While exceptions are made for those with medical problems, those who refuse to wear a mask can face a $150 fine.  The CTV National News quoted a Banff official saying, “If you don't want to wear a mask, stay away.”

Clearly they are supporting the wishes of the town's stakeholders and are not afraid to challenge the bad actors or non-conformers head-on. Good for them., we all know the majority follow the law, so the town knows who to target and punish.

To those freedom fighters and actors who erroneously claim their personal freedoms and rights are being taken away, let me note just the tip of the iceberg of certain laws we currently follow: Wearing seat belts, passports to travel, drivers licences, speed limits, no driving while on the cellphone, non-smoking areas, no-top-no-shoes-no service, etc.

These laws are permanent while the face mask laws will be temporary, until we all have a vaccine.

So get a life, and get on board, or as they said in Banff – stay away.

Perhaps it will help you avoid the fate of former U.S. presidential candidate Herman Cain, who attended a Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Okla., in June and died after contracting COVID-19.

In conclusion: Councillors, if you have to, consult with your counterparts in Banff. Mandate masks on Queen Street and expand if necessary. Queen Street fails 40 per cent or two of the five must-do things for COVID-19 prevention, namely:

* We cannot social distance due to the overcrowding on the sidewalk now that Queen St. is back to normal auto traffic and parking.

* Avoid crowds where social distancing is difficult. Again our sidewalks.

We are a mirror image of Banff. Council, let's not be late to the party again on this one.

Samuel Young

NOTL

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