Here are all the places that now require masks or face coverings in Mississauga

At a July 8 council meeting, Mississauga city councillors voted 11-1 in favour of a mandatory mask bylaw. 

Starting July 10 (albeit with a week-long grace period built-in to allow businesses and residents time to adjust), non-medical masks or face-coverings (such as a bandana or scarf) will be mandatory inside most indoor public spaces in the city. 

The city passed the motion just days after Mayor Bonnie Crombie appeared at a Region of Peel press conference to support a region-wide mandatory mask bylaw.

“We want to get life back to normal as soon as possible, allow more businesses to open more quickly, and get our City facilities re-opened as soon as possible,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie in a statement.

“To do this, we need to remain vigilant, practice physical distancing and good hygiene, but also wear a mask in indoor spaces where the spread of the virus can happen more easily. This is why we’ve made the decision to make face coverings like masks mandatory in indoor settings. By wearing a mask you protect others from potential exposure to the virus and you help us prevent a large second wave in the Fall. We all have a role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19.”

Starting July 10, masks will be mandatory in the following places:

• retail stores
• shopping malls
• restaurants (except when eating or drinking)
• businesses that primarily sell food including supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries and convenience stores
• churches, mosques and other places of worship, except during a religious rite or ceremony that is incompatible with the face being covered
• indoor sports and recreational facilities
• shopping malls or similar structure which contains multiple places of business
• commercial establishments providing personal care services that are permitted to open under the Emergency Orders
• common areas of hotels and motels and other short term accommodations, such as lobbies, elevators, meeting rooms or other common use facilities, but not the common areas of residential apartments buildings or condominiums
• libraries, museums, galleries and other similar facilities
• banquet halls, conventions centres, arenas, stadiums and other event spaces
• concert venues, theatres, cinemas, casinos and other entertainment establishments
• premises utilized as an open house, presentation centre, or other facility for real estate purposes
• MiWay buses, taxis and private vehicles for hire such as Uber and Lyft
• Municipal buildings
• other businesses that are permitted to operate in accordance with the Emergency Orders

The bylaw will not be in effect in the following places:

• schools
• daycares
• hospitals and health care offices 
• portions of buildings used for day camps or for sports training (as permitted by the province)
• common areas in residential condominiums or apartment buildings

The following people will not have to wear a mask in a public indoor space:

• children under the age of two
• people who have trouble breathing or are otherwise unable to wear a face-covering for medical reasons or reasons of disability, including people who are unable to remove masks without assistance
• people who are engaged in an athletic, fitness or aquatic activity (as permitted by the province)
• people who are consuming food or drink inside a bar or restaurant (once the province permits those types of business to open for indoor dining)
• employees and workers within an area not for public access, or within or behind a physical barrier

People will not be required to provide proof to meet any of the exemptions set out in the bylaw.

As far as enforcement goes, the city is applying to the Ministry of the Attorney General for set fines of less than $500 for both businesses and individuals and plans to focus on education rather than punishment. 

The bylaw will be enforced by the city’s bylaw enforcement officers, corporate security officers (in city facilities and buildings) and transit enforcement officers (in city transit terminals and MiWay buses).

Residents are reminded that face coverings must be worn properly (covering both the nose and mouth) and be washed regularly if reusable.