St. Catharines one step closer to mandatory mask bylaw

St. Catharines is moving ahead with a mandatory mask bylaw – but it won’t be enacted just yet.

Councillors unanimously passed a motion asking city staff to write a bylaw.

Council will then debate and vote on that next Monday.

The proposed rules would require people to wear masks indoors in commercial and public spaces.

There will be some exceptions, including people who can’t wear a mask for medical reasons.

The city says there are still many questions about how bylaw would work and how it would be enforced.

Niagara Region is holding a meeting Wednesday to consider making masks mandatory across the region.

Hamilton city council will consider its own bylaw on July 17.

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will bring forward a mask bylaw on July 15.

Toronto’s mandatory mask bylaw went into effect Tuesday July 7.