Saskatoon city council to debate social gathering bylaw

City councillors will be looking at the possibility of setting up its own bylaw to limit social gathering in Saskatoon on Monday.

Last week, councillors voted to ask administration to look into whether or not the City of Saskatoon would be able to make its own rules and set it's own gathering limits, in an attempt to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

In a report, the city solicitor said that decision-making powers on public health measures falls to the provincial government.

However, administration would write a bylaw if asked by council.

Three weeks ago, Saskatoon City Council wrote a letter to the provincial government asking that special gathering limits be brought in for the city.

Among other criteria, the proposed rules included a limit of 15 people at private gatherings, which would include gatherings at home.

However, the provincial government responded, saying it was not considering any gathering limits, essentially killing the idea.

The City of Saskatoon has already brought in proof of vaccination/negative test rules at all city-run leisure centres and arenas. City Hall and libraries are exempt.

While some councillors voted against the proposal, Mayor Charlie Clark said the City had to do something to combat Saskatoon's high COVID-19 levels.

As of Sunday, there were 688 active cases of COVID-19 in the city with 53 new cases. 

Across the province, there were 285 COVID-19 patients in hospital with 74 patients in intensive care units.

Administration asked the city's Medical Health Officer what activities should be targeted by the proposed bylaw.

The report said the following gatherings should be targeted if a bylaw is written:

As far as enforcement goes, the report said that provincial health orders are currently under public health inspectors and the provincial government's COVID Enforcement Team.