Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

MASK UP

City of Kamloops asking residents to prioritize safety and follow mask rules

Nov 25, 2020 | 5:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — As of Tuesday (Nov. 24), the province has backed mandatory mask measures with new fines for people who decide to ignore the rules.

“If somebody is absolutely uncontrollable and belligerent and absolutely does not want to follow the order, that’s when the have the relationship with the RCMP. We can call them and take the next steps to issuing that $230 fine if we so choose.” says City Community Services Manager Tammy Blundell.

Exemptions are made for people with certain health conditions, or when eating or drinking, but face coverings now need to be worn in any public indoor setting where you could interact with people outside of your bubble or where you can’t keep your distance.

Blundell notes that under the new orders, face shields do not count as a face covering.

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“The face shields at the bottom are open,” she explains, “So that’s the important piece — the masks have to be covering the nose and the mouth.”

To report contraventions, people are asked to call City Community (formerly Bylaw) Services at (250) 828-3409. If you can’t reach the City or the person becomes threatening, then you would call the non-emergency line for local police at (250) 828-3000.

These penalties wouldn’t be enforced on someone who made an honest mistake and was willing to either leave the building or mask up. Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says officers aim to educate before issuing a warning or a fine.

“Our bylaw team doesn’t go out looking for places to write tickets. For the most part we respond to complaints.”

Anti-mask sentiments have made their presence known in online videos and social media comment threads, but many people say they understand why they’re needed. CFJC Today went throughout the city’s downtown and North Shore today to ask residents what they thought about the mandatory mask requirements and the potential fines.

“I agree with it,” stated one woman. “We all have to abide by some kind of laws and rules.”

“Of course we need masks. We’re in the middle of a pandemic,” notes another man. “People need to wake up to the idea of social distancing, you know what I mean?’

“It’s okay with me I guess because I wear one,” shrugged another resident. “It doesn’t matter whether you believe in them or not that’s the rule, so just wear them. That’s kind of the way I look at it.”

So far the city says there haven’t been many situation requiring fines or enforcement in Kamloops and it hopes people will respect the mask policy.