It’s official: Mississauga says the face masks can come off

Mississauga residents can scrap the face masks starting today (March 23) in most public settings, and they now have permission from both the Ontario government and Mississauga City council to do so.

Council voted this morning to repeal Mississauga’s mask mandate bylaw immediately rather than wait until March 31 when it was set to expire.

The move comes after two days of confusion among Mississauga residents and businesses over which COVID-19 mask rules they had to follow.

The provincial government said people across Ontario were no longer required to wear the face coverings as of two days ago, March 21, except on public transit and in hospitals and long-term care centres.

Meanwhile, the City of Mississauga’s mask bylaw was still officially on the books earlier this week, even though council had aligned itself with the Province’s plan to let people remove the masks.

Since council didn’t meet until today, Mississauga remained in a state of face mask limbo for 48 hours.

Prior to its unanimous decision, council heard from Brad Butt, the Mississauga Board of Trade’s vice-president, government and stakeholder relations.

Butt urged councillors to axe the mask bylaw immediately in order to bring Mississauga rules into alignment with Ontario regulations.

“This is causing considerable concern and confusion” for Mississauga businesses, Butt said. “I’m certain (council) wants to ensure fair, consistent rules for businesses to follow.”

Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito, a vocal opponent of Ontario’s decision to allow the masks to come off this week, “reluctantly” supported today’s motion.

“I’m going to reluctantly support removing (the bylaw) only because of the confusion that seems to be existing with businesses, and to make it easier for them,” said Saito, adding she’s noticed the majority of people in her ward seem to be continuing to wear masks in indoor public settings.

“I think people are smarter than the Province…people are still wearing masks in very, very large numbers…we have a lot of very caring people out there who are still going to be wearing masks to protect the most vulnerable. Masks do work, they do protect and I hope people will continue to wear them.”

Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney said he was flooded with emails and calls from residents and businesses this week seeking clarification on the mask rules.

“There is confusion out there…people asking why the Province has (lifted the mask mandate), but we haven’t,” he said. “They want to know why people in Oakville don’t have to wear masks, but we do.

“It’s just a timing thing,” Mahoney added. “We do need to stay consistent with the Province…we should eliminate the mask bylaw now.”

Mahoney said he, too, noticed the majority of people still wearing masks.

“I was at a grocery store yesterday and 95 per cent were wearing masks, and good on them. I think many people will continue to wear masks going forward.”

Earlier this month, Mayor Bonnie Crombie joined Saito in suggesting the Ontario government had lifted the mandate too soon.

Crombie told reporters at a March 10 media briefing that while the COVID-19 situation is stable, the virus hasn’t gone anywhere and those with compromised immune systems remain vulnerable.

One day earlier, at a meeting of Mississauga’s general committee, Saito was a strong dissenting voice during discussion about Mississauga moving forward in lockstep with the Ontario government with respect to the lifting of the mask mandate.

In fact, citing infectious disease specialists and giving a nod to concerned residents she’s heard from, Saito said Mississauga should  extend its mask bylaw beyond March 31.

Under both provincial and City rules, face masks are now no longer required in schools, retail settings and most other indoor public spaces in Ontario. The change comes a few weeks after the Province lifted proof-of-vaccination rules and capacity limits.

Select settings such as public transit, healthcare facilities, long-term care homes and congregate care settings, will keep mask mandates until the end of April, when the Province plans to put an end to all remaining public health rules.

Provincial politicians and top health officials say public health indicators have improved enough to remove mask rules, which have also been lifted in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world.

School boards that wanted more time to keep mask mandates have been ordered by the Province to adhere to the official end date, but the Hamilton-Wentworth school board has said it plans to keep the mask requirement until April 1.