The Town of Amherstburg may be the latest municipality in Windsor-Essex to implement a bylaw mandating face masks in indoor public spaces.
Windsor and Leamington mandated masks in all indoor public spaces earlier this month. Tecumseh enacted one for inside municipal buildings, and Lakeshore's council will debate the merits of a bylaw soon.
The bylaws vary from municipality to municipality.
Amherstburg's bylaw would also require face masks inside churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places people gather to worship. Leamington's does not, and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens amended the bylaw in the city Friday to not include places of worship.
It also covers community centres, libraries, common areas of apartment and condominium buildings, even inside licensed taxis.
The town will make signs available to be posted at the entrance of those buildings.
The bylaw does not include schools, childcare facilities, day camps, school buses, health facilities, professional offices, or areas of community centres where people are exercising.
Workers in public spaces who are behind a plexiglass barrier and those inside municipal buildings not open to the public will not be required to wear them.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit enacted an order on June 26 requiring patrons and staff inside commercial establishments to wear them, but it is not enforceable through fines. A municipal bylaw does open that option up to cities and towns. Amherstburg's version will allow a bylaw enforcement officer to levy a financial penalty if public education and the order fall on deaf ears.
A report to the council said the primary focus would be on public education.
The town has to get a Regional Senior Justice to approve set fines and allow it to hand out tickets.
Complaints about non-compliance will be directed to the town.
Like other municipal bylaws, there are exemptions for children under the age of two, those who have breathing problems or can not remove a mask without assistance.
