Restriction Exemption Program bylaw to end in Calgary, mask rules remain
The Restriction Exemption Program will be lifted in Calgary in line with the provincial change, and the city's mask bylaw will remain in effect until at least March 1, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Tuesday.
Premier Jason Kenney announced the proof of vaccination system will end at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and rules that require students to wear masks in Alberta schools will end on Monday. Children under 12 will also be exempt from provincial masking rules.
"It was hoped that cities and municipalities would be consulted and at least enter into some sort of a dialogue before such a statement was issued by the provincial government," Gondek said, adding she also asked Kenney over the weekend to meet with civic leaders.
"The request was for a meaningful discourse, to learn more about the data and the science that was driving the decisions around the lifting of restrictions, versus simply being told what it is the province was going to do."
Gondek said she and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi instead met with Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver and Health Minister Jason Copping, along with the heads of two provincial municipal associations.
"We were able to ask a couple of questions and I think it was quite civil discourse in which I hope the province realizes we're simply asking to have a voice and to provide our informed perspective on how things should proceed," she said.
Kenney earlier said his "careful and prudent" plan, which was approved by Alberta's COVID cabinet committee, lays out a path to "move on from a widespread pandemic response, to get our lives back to normal."
He also said restrictions have "inflamed" disputes amongst Albertans and "disrupted and even destroyed livelihoods."
Capacity limits on many venues expire at midnight except for facilities with a capacity of 500-1,000, which will be capped at 500. Larger facilities, with a capacity of more than 1,000, will still be limited to 50 per cent.
The lifting of the provincial REP program means Calgary's vaccine passport bylaw will end as well, said Gondek.
"I want to be very clear on a question that was posed to the premier ... the comment was made that the cities will go rogue and do what they want to," she said. "That's not a fact. Our bylaw in Calgary is tied directly to what the province is doing."
The city's mask mandate remains, she added, "because the provincial mask mandate also remains."
"In about three weeks from now is when the provincial government is contemplating what to do about masking," she said.
A provincial work-from-home order will expire on March 1, along with the provincial mask mandate and capacity limits for all venues. All limits on social gatherings and cohorting rules in schools will be removed at the same time.
The province still has not determined a date for removing COVID-19 rules in continuing care homes, and it's still not decided when mandatory isolation requirements will become recommendations only.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike
Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week.
'Little girl deserves justice': Gallery erupts in anger as charges stayed against driver who killed child
In a tense courtroom, a judge stayed the charge against a Saskatoon woman who hit and killed a nine-year-old girl.
Skier who went missing at Sun Peaks Resort found dead
In a tragic turn of events, the 68-year-old man who went missing while skiing at Sun Peaks Resort earlier this week has been found dead, the RCMP confirmed Friday.
Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions
The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country's three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week.
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Here are the Canadian cities where snow has been a sure thing
With fewer than two weeks remaining until Christmas Day, weather forecasts and snowfall projections are starting to take shape but have yet to be finalized for cities across Canada.
'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves
Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump's promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance.
'He was done with shopping': Video shows dog laying on horn in B.C. mall parking lot
Malls can be hectic around the holidays, and sometimes you just can't wait to get home – whether you're on two legs or four.
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.
Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in Oregon
Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show.