Chatham-Kent Council passes mask by-law

CHATHAM — Chatham-Kent Council voted Monday night to make masks mandatory in the municipality.

After weeks of Chatham-Kent being in Stage 3 of the province’s plan to reopen the economy, council saw the rise in cases within the municipality and a motion was made to mandate masks as they are in Windsor-Essex.

The motion calls for masks to be worn in indoor public places where social distancing can’t be followed.

Up until now, Chatham-Kent had bucked the trend of mandating masks, but they now join most other municipalities across the province in doing so. The motion passed by a vote of 11-6. Councillors Authier, Ceccacci, Crew, Hall, Harrigan, Kirkwood-Whyte, B. McGregor, C. McGregor, Sulman and Thompson, along with Mayor Canniff, voted to pass the motion. Councillors Faas, Finn, Latimer, McGrail, Pinsonneault and Wright voted against. Councillor Bondy was not present.

The bylaw will include restaurants, cafés, cafeterias, banquet halls, retail establishments and shopping malls. also included are churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship.

Libraries, museums, art galleries, recreational facilities, bingo halls, cinemas, theatres, concert venues, special event venues, convention centres, or other similar entertainment, cultural, or leisure facilities are included in the bylaw.

Sports facilities, sports clubs, gyms, yoga studios, dance studios, and stadiums, plus hotels, motels, and short-term rental premises will require mask use.

For a full list, visit their website at chatham-kent.ca