HWDSB proceed with masking, despite no endorsement from province or public health
CBC
Hamilton's public school board is moving forward with its plan to mandate masking indoors and on school buses until April 1, even though it didn't get the reaction school board trustees hoped for from the province and local public health.
Dawn Danko, chair of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), told CBC Hamilton she received a letter from Ontario's Education Minister Stephen Lecce late Friday about the board's decision to keep masking in place past Monday, when masking requirements in most indoor settings will be lifted.
CBC hasn't obtained a copy of this letter, but Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously said school boards like HWDSB should stick to the province's decision to lift the mandate Monday because "they aren't medical experts." That came after trustees asked the province for its support.
The new letter doesn't offer an endorsement, but Danko said it doesn't offer a directive either.
"As we have not received any directive, we will proceed [with the mandate]," Danko said.
She added HWDSB has been in contact with the province throughout the week and didn't receive any direction to deviate from the plan.
It's unclear what, if anything, will happen to HWDSB for keeping a mask mandate for longer.
The provincial decision on masking has received praise and criticism from health officials and other organizations in Hamilton and surrounding areas.
HWDSB trustees previously called on Hamilton public health to issue an order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to allow mandatory masking, but Danko said public health won't be doing that.
Public health didn't immediately respond to questions on Sunday.
On Monday, all students and staff will need to wear a mask. Students without a mask will need an exemption form that is signed by a parent or guardian.
Exemptions submitted before are being honoured, HWDSB said, and there's no requirement for staff to verify exemptions.
That said, students who aren't wearing a mask won't be reprimanded.
"The two-week extension of the mask requirement will help us mitigate any increased risk of COVID spread following March Break, support students needing to request a move to remote learning and support the well-being of all students and staff through these changes," HWDSB said in a letter to families on Thursday.
When the government touts that its auto insurance reforms might curb premiums by $400 come 2027, the ministers and premier don't readily mention what's to come in the three years leading up to that.
Who poses the greater threat to the free speech of Conservative MPs — the Speaker of the House of Commons or the leader of the Conservative Party?
As city council prepares to vote on a temporary shelter village for people experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, Ont., opposition is growing among the area's business community.
A Toronto centre for Black art is hosting an exhibition this weekend that exclusively features work by artists from across the African diaspora.
Click on the video player above on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. ET to watch the 2024 Vanier Cup.
This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.
Some Canadian seniors say they're feeling abandoned by the Liberal government's latest inflation relief measure after learning they don't qualify for it.
WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.
The weather has certainly been gloomy, damp and windy over the past 10 days in Nova Scotia and it's going to continue this weekend.
Premier Susan Holt says the federal tax holiday on some goods announced Thursday could cost New Brunswick $62 million in revenue.
Thousands in Quebec's Montérégie region will not get their flu and COVID-19 vaccine directly at their seniors' residence anymore.