SUNDRE — Although authorities are prepared to enforce the province-wide mask mandate, the local peace officer said he largely anticipates the public’s cooperation.
“I don’t expect to see a lot of issues in our area. Folks have been pretty good so far about the rules and restrictions that were put in place,” said Kevin Heerema, who also serves as the municipality’s director of emergency services.
“Once the weekend rolls through and everyone’s aware of these restrictions that were announced yesterday and the new ones that take effect Sunday morning, I expect to see a lot of compliance,” Heerema said on Wednesday, Dec. 9 during a phone interview.
Included among the new restrictions is the mandatory mandate to wear masks in all indoors spaces as well as the ban on all indoor and outdoor gatherings.
“All police agencies, and now peace officers, have been granted authority to enforce the Public Health Act and the orders that have been put in place,” he said.
While Heerema at the time of the interview had not yet visited all of the business in town, he said, “I haven’t seen a whole lot of folks without a mask.”
Asked whether he plans to issue any tickets in the event someone stubbornly refuses to wear a mask, he said it will depend on the situation.
“It’s a lot like any other provincial infraction, the way I look at it,” he said.
“In some instances, a ticket’s gonna be the best way to deal with it. In other instances, education would be the best way.”
But he expressed no desire to instantly resort to issuing a citation. Instead, he intends to advise anyone violating the mask mandate that they have a few options to choose from: put a mask on, leave the premise, or get a ticket.
“Any businesses — any indoor spaces open to public — they have the right to refuse service if people aren’t abiding by the rules,” he said.
“This is a tough situation for everybody on every end. Everyone’s going to have to do their part to follow the guidelines that are in place, whether they like them or not. Because that’s what the province has set down, and the rules are there much like any other provincial law. This is what we’re dealing with now, until January at least.”
Cpl. Joe Mandel said chances are high that the local RCMP detachment will be responding to complaints regarding people who are not complying with the provincial health orders.
The corporal said officers will in these situations first attempt to educate and seek voluntary compliance by explaining the important role protocols play in reducing the spread of the virus.
In instances where someone or a group of people refuse to comply or demonstrate a blatant disregard for others, Mandel said police will issue fines under the Provincial Offences Procedures Act.
“The fine for violating a public health order is $1,000, plus a potential $200 surcharge if the fine is not paid prior to the specified court date. Additionally, one can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offence for violating a public health order,” he wrote in a press release.
As of Friday night, no tickets had been issued. Although the local detachment had received a couple of complaints of non-compliance, officers were able to resolve them through education, he said.
“It is a shame that these new restrictions will impact everyone, specifically prior to Christmas. But it is what it is," he said.
“The last thing the Sundre RCMP wants to do is issue fines for non-compliance, especially with people already hit hard by the economic fallout of the pandemic response. We ask that people voluntarily adhere to the Health Orders so that we can get through this response and get our families back together, keep our elderly healthy and get our small businesses open.”
