Saskatoon mayor calls for vaccine passports as city grapples with 'increasingly serious' COVID-19 surge
The mayor of Saskatoon is calling for measures including "vaccine passports" in the wake of rising COVID-19 rates in the city.
In a message shared on social media Tuesday evening, Charlie Clark called the recent rise in case numbers "discouraging." As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 413 active cases reported in the Saskatoon area.
Clark said he believes there needs to be measures in place for people who choose not to be vaccinated.
"(Measures) that put limits or conditions on how much they can participate in community activities," Clark said.
"This includes vaccine passports, vaccination requirements for certain activities, mandatory testing, etc."
In an interview, Clark said the post was controversial and he's received lots of responses about it.
“I’ve seen a lot of back lash on social media. I’m concerned this is becoming increasingly polarizing situation in our community and I understand that there’s still a lot of anxiety about COVID and the vaccines. My intent is not to increase that polarization,” he said.
“As a community, we have to come to terms with this reality and work together, as we always have, on how to keep people safe and keep our health system from getting overwhelmed and have the right conditions for our economy to recover and businesses to thrive."
Sam Farthing is a father of four in Saskatoon. He said he doesn’t want to see the return of restrictions or vaccine passports.
“Please no, because we need to make these decisions ourselves, have our own freedom to decide what we need to do,” Farthing said.
“We have freedoms, we have rights, we have to make our own decisions. You can’t tell us what to do … I’m someone who does take precautions, but still, we have to do this ourselves.”
But a University of Saskatchewan doctor said it’s not so simple.
“We have rights and responsibilities living in a community, and those have to be balanced. When one individual’s rights put the rest of the community at risk, we limit those rights for a time,” said Dr. Cory Neudorf, a public health and epidemiology physician.
The new Delta variant is predominant in Saskatoon, according to Neudorf.
Since it’s more transmissible than the original strain, he said increased preventative measures are necessary and is in favour of a system that allows access based on whether or not you’re vaccinated.
In Clark’s post, he pointed to wastewater data showing the highest levels of COVID-19 fragments since researchers began monitoring the city's sewage.
"Fall is coming, schools will be opening, we will have more indoor activities. Things will only get worse," Clark said.
"We are sitting at only 68 per cent of the population vaccinated – we need to get to at least 85 per cent."
Clark said policies released by the Western Hockey League, the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Amigos are good examples of the steps he feels should be taken.
Clark also brought up the possibility of making masks mandatory again.
He said the city is still finalizing policies for its employees, as well as for public services like transit and leisure centres.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.