INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail has answered two COVID-related questions that were asked by a citizens’ delegation at town council last month when demands were made to lift provincially mandated pandemic restrictions at town-owned facilities.
On Nov. 15, local citizen Iris Reimer gave a lengthy presentation to town council against the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP), and the accompanying proof of vaccine policy.
In her follow-up letter to the town, which was included in council’s Dec. 6 agenda package, Reimer wanted to know if there was any consideration on the part of the town to refund taxes to Innisfailians who are denied entry to public facilities because they oppose current COVID restrictions.
“Our papers that we had stacked had over 300 people from the town and county who stated they are ‘not in favour of the COVID-19 proof of vaccination program for any Town of Innisfail facility',” wrote Reimer.
During her presentation Reimer asked whether the town would impose the REP and vaccine passports in public facilities and individual businesses, and secondly, how much money the federal and provincial governments had given to the town to implement the vaccine passport.
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, responded to both questions in a letter on Nov. 26. He told Reimer the municipality does not have the ability to affect the application of provincial ministerial orders on private businesses, nor does it have the jurisdiction to enforce an REP and vaccine passports on local businesses as they are within the provincial government’s mandate, and legally enforced through Alberta Health Services.
As for town-owned facilities, Becker told Reimer that while the town does have direct control of how the order is implemented at its public facilities, namely the aquatic centre, Arena and library/learning center, the town chose a “slightly different approach” at each facility.
He added consideration was given to the impact of an REP/vaccine passport program on youth users, adult users, and other users within each facility.
As an example, he noted that to ensure continued youth participation in minor hockey, thrive hockey, and the skating club at the Arena, the town did not implement an REP program.
“However, to allow adult groups to utilize the space the option for these groups to implement an REP has been offered,” wrote Becker. “To date the town has been operating on an honour system with these groups, however blatant non-compliance has required a more involved role by town staff with mens rec hockey."
His letter to Reimer said most activity at the aquatic centre is through town programming offered to both children and adults. However, to continue service to adult users the town chose to implement the REP program.
“If this was not done the aquatic centre would have to discontinue all adult programming,” he said, adding the town has continued to allow adults into the facility to support children's activities for those eight years of age or under without providing proof of vaccination, negative test, or medical exemption. “This decision was made to ensure youth are not rendered unable to access the facility."
As for the library/learning centre, Becker said the facility is considered “out of scope” under the ministerial order and not under an REP.
He said the town is operating this facility under the one/third fire code occupancy restrictions, except for specific bookings within the Community Room that are required to implement an REP, which is part of the rental agreements.
As for the second question, Becker said the town has not received any money or been part of any conversations with government officials regarding the implementation of the vaccine passport program. He told Reimer the program is a result of the restrictions that have been developed and mandated by the provincial government.
Becker added he was recently informed by the provincial ministry of health that current COVID restrictions were expected to remain in place until at least the end of March of 2022.
He ended his letter by “strongly” recommending to Reimer to contact provincial government officials to get clarification of the current restrictions and vaccination programs.
