While residents must wear a mask inside city-owned buildings, they will soon have to provide proof of vaccination if they want to attend a council meeting at city hall.
During its Sept. 27 regular meeting, council voted 5-1 in favour of a policy that anyone who wants to attend a council meeting or other public meetings or hearings be required to show a vaccine passport before entry or negative COVID-19 test.
Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.
This policy is based on the provincial requirements that go into effect Friday, Oct. 1. Residents must show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result before accessing public meetings or other public venues such as restaurants, entertainment sites or gyms.
“Municipalities need to continue providing essential services while keeping in mind the safety and health of citizens and the council members,” said city manager Jim Puffalt.
Municipalities are expected to adhere to provincial public health measures, including mandatory masking in all public spaces and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test, he continued.
Meanwhile, municipal councils have a legislative requirement to hold open meetings where the public can attend as a delegation or observer. Therefore, if a municipality chooses to hold in-person meetings, it must implement this type of policy.
People who cannot provide the required proof would be directed to attend virtually or online, Puffalt said. Meanwhile, city hall will not retain the information it collects about people’s vaccination status — aside from employees and councillors — and will record that the people were in the building.
All provincial government employees must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative test result regularly, the new policy said. While municipal employees are not included in this order, a municipality can implement a policy requiring mandatory jabs for its staff as an employer.
“The purpose of the proof of COVID-19 vaccination policy is to reduce the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace and to provide a safe environment for employees and the public to access and use city facilities,” the policy continued. “COVID-19 is a highly contagious communicable disease. It is critical that the City of Moose Jaw use all available tools at its disposal to ensure that its workplaces are as safe as possible … .
“Individuals who are not vaccinated thus pose a greater risk to their personal health and safety and to the health and safety of those around them,” the policy claimed. “The City of Moose Jaw strongly encourages all citizens, other than any for whom it is not medically recommended, to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations at their first opportunity.”
Four pieces of documentation will be accepted as per this policy: a printed copy of the vaccination record, a digital copy of the record such as a screenshot or QR code, a vaccination card received on the date of the jab, or documents showing proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test by a health-care provider.
All of these will need to be verified by photo ID, the policy said.
Vaccine exemptions will be accepted for people with medical exemptions and children under age 12.
Masking exemptions will be accepted for people with medical conditions. Written confirmation of the medical condition must include the name of the individual, the name of the health-care professional, the phone number of that physician, the signature of that physician, the date when the confirmation was provided.
The Moose Jaw Express will produce another story on Tuesday about council’s discussion about this topic.
The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 12.
