Saskatoon councillor 'confused' over health minister's comments on COVID-19 jurisdiction
Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton says he's "confused" regarding Health Minister Paul Merriman's claim that cities can set their own COVID-19 restrictions.
"I really don't understand, though, what the health minister is saying when he says we can, you know, go on our own and make our own decisions on that because we know that we have to make that request first, and we tried and the request was denied," Kirton told CTV News.
City council unanimously passed a recommendation on Sept. 29 for Mayor Charlie Clark to write a letter to Premier Scott Moe asking for a limit of 15 people at private gatherings in Saskatoon, including household gatherings.
Administration had also recommended a limit of 150 people at bingo halls, event centres, theatres, casinos, art galleries, libraries and recreational facilities or one-third of current capacity, whichever is less.
The Saskatoon area then, as now, had the most COVID-19 cases in the province.
The province denied the request. When a reporter asked Merriman on Thursday why it was denied, Merriman said that the province had created a base layer of COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations.
"If the municipalities want to be able to add on top of that they have that ability to do that," Merriman said.
Kirton said the city only has jurisdiction over its own facilities such as leisure centres, City Hall and municipally-owned rinks.
On Oct. 1 the city started requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for dryland areas within leisure centres to comply with the provincial rules. Effective Friday, that requirement will be expanded to all areas within leisure centres and indoor rinks.
"That's as far as we can go without the province giving its thumbs up to any other requests that we make, so we're pretty limited here in Saskatoon," Kirton said.
He said he's "disappointed" that the province is not recognizing that Saskatoon needs different measures than other municipalities.
"I guess it just frustrates me because we were just trying to make it as safe as possible for the citizens of Saskatoon."
Municipalities across Saskatchewan have been reticent to make their own restrictions after seeing Regina get its "hand slapped" when the province quashed its own local restrictions in March 2020, Kirton said.
"For Health Minister Merriman to say this, I guess I would love to hear more information from him as to where we can do this because at this point, I don't have that information."
With files from Nicole Di Donato
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.