Item - 2022.CC41.1
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on March 9, 2022 with amendments.
- See also By-law 208-2022
CC41.1 - Response to COVID-19 - March 2022 Update to City Council
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on March 9, 2022, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend Bylaw 541-2020, the Mask Bylaw, as amended by City of Toronto Bylaw 664-2020, so that it expires upon any one or more of the requirements related to the wearing of masks in the Roadmap Exit Step of the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 being amended, revoked, or ceasing to apply to the City of Toronto.
2. City Council affirm that, even in the absence of regulations requiring mask wearing, City Council supports the ability for residents to choose to wear a mask.
3. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to engage regularly with the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario to review Toronto's local epidemiology and discuss the use of masks and other appropriate infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, particularly in certain settings, such as hospitals and long-term care homes, public transit, and shelters.
4. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province to make PCR testing available to a wider range of individuals at higher risk of serious illness and to put mechanisms in place so that those who test positive have appropriate access to antiviral medications.
5. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and consult with the accessibility community as soon as possible to solicit feedback from people living with disabilities and organizations working with this population about Toronto's evolving epidemiology and masking policies.
6. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration on measures to combat the rise of hate crimes including anti-Asian hate as it pertains to masking and other public health measures.
7. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to report to each of the remaining Board of Health meetings in the term with a COVID-19 update.
Background Information (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-222447.pdf
(March 9, 2022) Supplementary Report from the Medical Officer of Health on Response to COVID-19 - March 2022 Update to City Council (CC41.1a)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-222686.pdf
(March 9, 2022) Presentation from the Medical Officer of Health on Response to COVID-19 - March 2022 Update to City Council
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-222724.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That City Council adopt the following recommendations in the supplementary report (March 9, 2022) from the Medical Officer of Health [CC41.1a]:
1. City Council amend Bylaw 541-2020, the Mask Bylaw, as amended by City of Toronto Bylaw 664-2020, so that it expires upon any one or more of the requirements related to the wearing of masks in the Roadmap Exit Step of the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 being amended, revoked, or ceasing to apply to the City of Toronto.
2. City Council affirm that, even in the absence of regulations requiring mask wearing, City Council supports the ability for residents to choose to wear a mask.
3. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to engage regularly with the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario to review Toronto's local epidemiology and discuss the use of masks and other appropriate infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, particularly in certain settings, such as hospitals and long-term care homes, public transit, and shelters.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Mar-09-2022 4:28 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CC41.1 - Tory - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 24 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Joe Cressy, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are John Filion |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Gary Crawford |
That:
1. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Province to make PCR testing available to a wider range of individuals at higher risk of serious illness and to put mechanisms in place so that those who test positive have appropriate access to antiviral medications.
That:
1. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Chair of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and consult with the accessibility community as soon as possible to solicit feedback from people living with disabilities and organizations working with this population about the Toronto's evolving epidemiology and masking policies.
2. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to work with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration on measures to combat the rise of hate crimes including anti-Asian hate as it pertains to masking and other public health measures.
That:
1. City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to continue to report to each of the remaining Board of Health meetings in the term with a COVID-19 update.