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Petrolia passes mandatory mask bylaw

August 10, 2020

Starting Friday, people in Petrolia will have to wear a mask in public spaces including businesses.

Petrolia Council has just passed a bylaw for everyone over the age of nine. Medical exemptions will be allowed.

The bylaw includes a fine of up to $1000 for those who don’t comply, however the town plans to use education before issuing charges.

Only Councillor Ross O’Hara was opposed to the idea. He says he wears his mask constantly, but the town should not be putting a bylaw in place that they have no intention of enforcing.

He says the town should invest in public education to convince people to wear a mask.

Dr. Charles Winegard spoke to council before the debate. He’s the vice president of rural medicine at Bluewater Health. Winegard says he doesn’t know of any physician in Lambton who doesn’t support the use of masks.

Petrolia becomes the second Lambton community to enact a mandatory mask bylaw. Sarnia enacted a bylaw last Friday.

More to come…..

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