Okotoks and several municipalities were successful in fighting for youth exemption to the Province’s proof of vaccination requirements.
CAO Elaine Vincent said the Province announced at 5:36 p.m. on Sept. 20 that youth ages 12-17 are not required to provide proof of vaccination under the resretictions exemption program (REP). Effective Sept. 21, adults age 18 and older will be required to provide documentation to enter the Okotoks Recreation Centre or Pason Centennial Arenas.
She said the Town was initially caught in a difficult position because it must follow the orders sent down from the chief medical officer of health, which had not specified youth exemption when they came down on Sept. 19, which was "causing a lot of angst."
Brooks, Cochrane and Sylvan Lake had written in their own youth exemptions as they implemented REP, which requires proof of vaccination, a negative PCR or rapid test that has been privately-paid, or documentation of medical exemption to enter Town facilities.
The Emergency Advisory Committee, including Town councillors, will meet at noon Sept. 21 to ask the questions that have been pouring in from the public, review information from the Province and determine the best path forward. The meeting will be broadcast live on the Town website.“I can’t tell you how important and how difficult it is for residents right now and we absolutely understand that," said Vincent. "We’ll do our best to try and influence the outcome, but again as a municipality we must follow the CMOH orders.”
The REP is coming into effect in Okotoks Sept. 21 in order to accommodate the federal election taking place in Okotoks Recreation Centre on Sept. 20 and allow voters to access the facility without requiring proof of vaccination.
According to its press release, dated Sept. 19, the Town opted to implement the REP rather than operating at one-third capacity in order to keep all adult and senior group bookings and team bookings open, providing access to as many residents as possible.
Children eight and older may enter the facility alone, and those eight and younger must be accompanied by an adult or someone 16 years or older, and those chaperones will need to comply with the REP.
Non-recreational Town facilities will not fall under the REP, but will operate at one-third capacity. These include the Okotoks Municipal Centre, Operations Centre, Southridge Emergency Services building, fire halls, Okotoks Art Gallery, Okotoks Museum & Archives, Rotary Performing Arts Centre and Eco Centre. Okotoks Transit will continue to mandate masking but will not require proof of vaccination.
Vincent said choosing between the REP or reduced capacity is a difficult position for a municipality.
“We’re being asked to basically choose between different types of patrons, which is just wrong,” she said. “We’re certainly taking the heat for that now.”
She said everyone is encouraged to take in the Emergency Advisory Committee on Sept. 21 or watch the video afterwards, to hear the conversation and questions being asked and answered.
While it’s a difficult position for the Town and its residents, Vincent said until the chief medical officer of health changes the order that came down Sept. 19, the municipality’s hands are tied.
“We’re doing our best to try to influence that, but this is Provincial guidance,” said Vincent. “Any influence people have with the MLA, with the Premier, we are actively encouraging people to do that, to see how this policy is playing out on the ground."
