Tuesday, September 1st, it will be mandatory to wear non-medical masks on Saskatoon Transit buses, if the motion passes at City Council on August 31st.
The recommendation from City Administration has been approved by the Governance and Priorities Committee, which includes all of the Councillors.
There would also be a recommendation, but it wouldn’t be mandatory, for masks at all civic facilities.
Director of Emergency Management, Pamela Goulden-McLeod, says this is in line with the provincial and federal governments’ guidelines, which suggest if you can’t keep a 2 metre distance, you should wear a mask.
For the first 2 weeks, if the motion passes, face coverings would be handed out to anyone who doesn’t have one getting on to a bus.
When it comes to non-compliance, Transit Director Jim McDonald says what other municipalities have found is when riders get on a bus full of people wearing masks, most will comply.
Along with safety considerations, mandating face masks on buses means being able to go back to full ridership.

Any challenges or altercations will be handled like they are in any other situation, McDonald says, and if there is an escalation, emergency services can be called in.
Otherwise, if the same person is noticed refusing on more than one occasion, education by a staff person, not the operator, could be requested.

Anyone with an underlying medical condition or disability which inhibits the ability to wear a face covering wouldn’t have to and the same goes for children under 2, first responders in an emergency situation, anyone who is unable to place or remove a mask or face covering without assistance and anyone providing assistance to someone with an underlying condition where the use of a non-medical mask would hinder that assistance.