Special meeting of Calgary city council called to discuss COVID-19
A special meeting of Calgary's city council has been called for Wednesday afternoon to discuss the response to the pandemic, along with a confidential personnel matter.
The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the province's Restrictions Exception Program has been confusing and unclear, and forces municipalities and individual businesses to make up their own mind.
"I'm recalling city council tomorrow to consider a city bylaw to bring clarity to the issue, to get rid of all these loopholes, so every single person knows exactly what they are doing," Nenshi said.
"To say that someone between 12 and 18 can go to hockey practice but can't go out for dinner after hockey practice with the team… that's crazy. So lets just do this correctly and do it right and stop trying to tie ourselves in knots here."
Nenshi said the provincial government "botched" it's rollout of the program.
"So we're hoping to fix the implementation using the city's own abilities to do that."
"We also are announcing tomorrow a city-run vaccination outreach program to really get to people in geographic areas where vaccination is low."
The city returned to a state of local emergency (SOLE) earlier this month in response to rising COVID-19 case numbers and a mask bylaw was put back into effect.
That means masks are required in indoor public spaces and on city transit.
The SOLE will allow city workers to access resources more efficiently and effectively, as well as paving the way to put local health orders in place.
A SOLE was originally declared in November 2020 and lifted in June. Prior to that, a SOLE was in effect from March 2020 to June 2020.
Calgary Recreation has also decided to implement the provincial Restriction Exemption Program, meaning proof of vaccination will have to be shown to access indoor facilities by everyone age 12 and over.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.