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Mask advice in Canada as COVID-19, RSV, flu cases rise
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Over the course of 2022, provinces and territories dropped mask mandates as populations received multiple doses of vaccines targeting the illness, cases declined and Canada largely lifted health restrictions, as did many Western nations.
But now, nearly three years into the pandemic, infectious disease experts and those who work on the frontlines of the health-care system are urging Canadians to don masks again as hospitals grapple with a tidal wave of multiple illnesses, including COVID-19.
Cases of RSV have spiked abnormally this fall and are packing hospital emergency rooms with sick children, health-care workers report, as a shortage of children’s medication is worrying parents. Simultaneously, Canada is now officially in a flu epidemic, according to the federal public health agency, and there is increased concern from officials and public health experts about how new variants of COVID-19 could impact the population as the public heads indoors due to the cold weather.
And while federal health officials are strongly recommending Canadians wear masks indoors, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said last week that it’s up to provinces and territories to make decisions on whether to implement mandates.
“Although no individual layer of protection is perfect, when used consistently and together, vaccine plus layers can provide excellent protection against COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases we may encounter,” said Tam at a press conference Nov. 10.
As well, only half of Canadians have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to federal government data from Nov. 6.
But several jurisdictions have stopped short of issuing a mask mandate, instead opting to recommend masks are worn.
The absence of new mandates comes as a recent survey by NANOS research showed that seven in 10 Canadians would support the return of face masks to some extent. Fifty-two per cent said they’d support mandates.
Here’s what the provinces and territories are doing around masks.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Health officials in B.C. say they are not bringing back a mask mandate at this time.
The Ministry of Health told CTV News Vancouver on Tuesday that through COVID-19 infection and vaccination, there is a high amount of population immunity.
The province’s health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday that the “heavy hand” of a mandate is not currently needed to send the message that masks are an “important tool” that can be used in every respiratory season.
“We should have one with us, we should use it in situations where it makes sense,” she said.
B.C. officials also said that the cases of RSV in Ontario are “more serious” than in B.C. and about a quarter of capacity was available in B.C. hospitals for pediatric ICU beds as of this week.
Getting children vaccinated is currently what’s needed the most, the ministry told CTV News Vancouver.
ALBERTA
In Alberta, premier Danielle Smith told reporters Monday that masking is a personal choice and those who want to wear one, can. Her message comes as the province, particularly schools, are battling influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
She said the government is focused on acquiring more children’s pain medication and ensuring hospitals can meet demand.
CTV News Edmonton reported that absenteeism in Edmonton’s public schools reached close to 14 per cent last Thursday. Catholic schools reported that about 15 per cent of students were absent due to illness as of Monday.
SASKATCHEWAN
On Monday, Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman told reporters that mask mandates have not been a discussion with the province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Saqib Shahab.
Merriman said it’s an individual’s choice whether they’d like to wear one. At the same press conference, Shahab said requiring masks in schools “probably is not a feasible thing at this point” and “may not be helpful.”
MANITOBA
Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson said at a press conference on Nov. 10 the province has no plans to reinstate a mask mandate.
However, she did encourage those “under the weather” to “protect others” and health-care workers. She did not specify what that protection would entail.
CTV News Winnipeg reports that the province is seeing increased hospital admissions, especially among children, for RSV and other illnesses.
ONTARIO
At a press conference Monday, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical health officer, said he is “strongly recommending” masking in all indoor public settings.
Hospitals in the province have reported they are dealing with an overwhelming number of sick children and pediatric ICU units are operating above capacity, according to The Canadian Press.
Influenza and RSV are driving the admissions and the wave of infections has arrived earlier in the fall season than in previous years prior to the pandemic.
Moore said the “difficult and complex” fall that was predicted has come to fruition and that COVID-19, influenza and RSV are circulating and Ontario must “use all layers of protection we have.”
However, Moore said he was not introducing a mask mandate as it hasn’t worked in social settings in the past and the announcement he’s made about recommendations is in an effort to get the public “back to basics” when it comes to infection prevention.
“This is protecting our children and those that are the youngest among us. Please parents, grandparents, siblings: If you have any respiratory symptoms, you must mask around those that are vulnerable,” he said.
But Moore said if the pressure on the health-care system continues to increase, a mask mandate would be the “furthest” the province goes when it comes to health restrictions.
The health ministry is currently discussing mask mandates in schools as a possible measure, he said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also urged the public to wear a mask the day before Moore’s announcement, but did not issue a mandate.
QUEBEC
In a move similar to Ontario, Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Dube said at a press conference Wednesday that he strongly recommended the public wear masks amid a “spicy cocktail” of viruses that are impacting hospitals, which include COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
He also recommended handwashing, and that the public stay home if they are sick.
Quebec’s Premier François Legault also said in a press scrum Tuesday that he recommends residents wear a mask in public settings, but added that it was up to an individual’s preferences.
“It’s really a citizen responsibility,” he said.
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Brunswick has not reissued a mask mandate. CTV News Atlantic interviewed several Maritime residents who had mixed opinions on whether a mandate would be welcomed or not.
But while many said they’d be sad to see masks worn again, they would wear one if they needed to in order to protect others.
CTV News Atlantic reached out to the Department of Health in New Brunswick regarding mandates on Monday and was told that if the “situation changes public health will determine a new approach.”
NOVA SCOTIA
Nova Scotia has not announced any mask mandates since public health requirements around wearing masks ended in July.
CTV News Atlantic contacted Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang’s office on Monday regarding mandates and their request for an interview was declined.
In an emailed statement, the office said: “Public health continues to assess recommendations and will inform Nova Scotians if any changes are made”
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Prince Edward Island has not reissued a mask mandate for the general public. However, the province still has a mask mandate for hospitals, long-term care homes and community care homes.
In an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca on Thursday, the province said PEI is experiencing an increase in respiratory illnesses, like other provinces.
“The mask mandate remains in place for hospitals, and long-term care and community care homes in PEI. At this time, there is no public mask mandate in place,” said Morgan Martin, a senior communications officer for the province’s department of health and wellness.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
At a press conference Tuesday, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said she can’t implement a mask mandate as the province isn’t currently experiencing a public health emergency.
Fitzgerald said she recommends masks be worn in places that are deemed higher risk for COVID-19 and other illness spread.
Recommendations “may become stronger as time goes on” and the government is continuing to monitor the situation and will make decisions based on the evidence, she said.
Newfoundland and Labrador are not seeing the same surges in illness as other provinces, she added.
YUKON
Yukon has made no moves toward re-issuing a mask mandate. The territory removed most health measures in March 2022 and removed mask mandates in schools on May 24.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
According to the territory’s website, masking remains a recommendation. The territory dropped its Public Health Orders on April 1, 2022.
However, masking is particularly recommended in several scenarios including if someone has tested positive for COVID-19, if they are caring for an individual who has tested positive and for those who are at higher risk of catching COVID-19.
NUNAVUT
Nunavut has not announced they are implementing a mask mandate and the territory lifted restrictions around masks in July.
However, masks are still required in community health centres, Elders’ facilities and in the Qikiqtani General Hospitaland Akausisarvik that requires patients and staff to wear masks.
With files from CTV News Edmonton, CTV News Atlantic, CTV News Winnipeg, CTV News Vancouver and The Canadian Press
News
We're still stockpiling reusable bags. Big grocers have adopted solutions, but experts have concerns – CBC News
Canada’s plastic bag ban has had an unintended consequence: a proliferation of reusable bags piling up in basements, closets and, eventually, landfills.
“They’re everywhere,” said environmental researcher Tony Walker. “We’re drowning in them, and we shouldn’t be.”
To combat the problem, several of Canada’s big grocers have introduced solutions. Last week, Walmart launched a free national recycling pilot program for the retailer’s reusable blue bags. Competitors Sobeys and chains owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd. use recyclable paper bags for grocery delivery.
But some environmental experts argue that paper bags are also problematic and that the best solutions are those that help customers actually reuse their reusable bags.
“We just can’t keep giving [them] out,” said Walker, a professor at Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies in Halifax. “We’re only meant to have a few of them, and we’re meant to use them until they fall apart.”
In late 2022, the federal government rolled out a ban on the manufacture, import and sale of several single-use plastics, including checkout bags. The regulations are being contested in court, but in the meantime, they remain in effect.
The regulations have made single-use shopping bags scarce in Canada, but they’ve also led to the proliferation of reusable bags, especially for grocery delivery.
“It just creates more waste, which is what we’re trying to avoid in the first place,” Walmart customer Udi Sela said in a CBC News interview in late 2022.
At the time, Sela, who lives in Maple, Ont., estimated his family had acquired about 300 reusable Walmart bags via grocery delivery.
“We can’t return them, we can’t do much with them.”
Now, a little more than a year later, Walmart has launched a pilot project to address the problem.
It allows customers to pack up their unwanted reusable Walmart blue bags and ship them — at no charge — to a facility where they’ll get a second life.
How it works
According to Walmart, bags in good condition will be laundered and donated to charity, primarily Food Banks Canada. Damaged bags will get recycled into other materials. Reusable bags typically can’t go in blue bins because they’re costly and difficult to recycle.
Customers must sign up for Walmart’s program, and enrolment is limited.
Jennifer Barbazza, Walmart’s senior manager of sustainability, said the retailer will fine-tune the details as the program progresses.
“[We] know that some customers have more reusable bags than maybe they need,” she said. “One of the things that we’re really excited to learn about from the pilot is customer acceptance and customer feedback.”
Reusable bags are living rent free in closets and car trunks across the country. Most major retailers made the switch away from single-use plastic bags about a year ago, but it’s taking time for some customers to catch on. They’re forgetting to bring their bags with them, and buying more every week.
Udi Sela has already signed up.
“I definitely think it’s a step in the right direction,” he said in an interview on Friday. “It’s something that needed to be done a while ago. God knows we’ve got a ton of bags kind of piled up.”
He said he’s concerned that some customers may find mailing the bags a hurdle. However, it’s not deterring Sela, who soon plans to ship hundreds.
Passing the buck?
Not everyone is keen on Walmart’s project. Emily Alfred, a waste campaigner with Toronto Environmental Alliance, said donating the bags to the food bank is just passing on the problem.
“We need to remove waste from the system entirely, and just sending these somewhere else for someone else to deal with is not really a solution,” she said.
Alfred said a better option is a program Walmart piloted in Guelph, Ont., in 2022. For a fee, customers could check out reusable bags from an in-store kiosk and later return them to be cleaned and reused.
“That’s a real circular reuse system,” she said.
Walmart’s Barbazza said the retailer is continuing to explore different reusable bag programs, including ones placed in stores.
She also said she’s confident Canada’s food banks will make good use of the bags.
“There’s definitely a need for sturdy items to distribute materials to the food bank clients.”
The paper problem
Among Canada’s major grocers, only Walmart offers a reusable bag program for all customers.
Loblaw recently switched from reusable to recyclable paper bags for grocery delivery. Sobeys did not respond to requests for comment, but according to its website, the grocer also uses paper bags and “reusable options” for home delivery.
Several environmental experts say paper bags aren’t a good solution, because their production leaves a sizable carbon footprint.
“Paper bags are a problem,” Alfred said. “It takes a lot of energy to recycle paper, takes a lot of trees and energy to make new paper.”
Loblaw said it continues to explore a variety of more sustainable solutions. “It’s a challenge we’re committed to addressing,” spokesperson Dave Bauer said in an email.
Both Walker and Alfred applaud Metro for its grocery delivery program, because the grocer, which operates in Ontario and Quebec, reuses delivery materials.
Metro said customers can get their goods delivered in a cardboard box or reusable bags, which can be returned and used for another delivery. Or customers can opt for a plastic bin and remove their groceries from it upon arrival.
Metro does not offer similar programs for in-store shoppers.
Alfred said the federal government should introduce regulations that mandate retailers adopt effective reusable bag programs for all customers.
“It’s up to our governments and people to demand that these companies do better,” she said.
But Walker suggested that the regulations would be hard to enforce and that incentives could be a better tactic.
For example, if retailers increased the price of reusable bags, shoppers might be less likely to forget them when they head to the store, he said.
“When the cost is a disincentive to do an activity, people change their behaviour.”
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Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she thinks unhappy premiers will come around on measures in the federal budget that touch on provincial legislation, even as they push back.
At an event in Toronto on Sunday, Freeland — who presented the federal budget on Tuesday — said the national government needs to push ahead on such issues as housing and she was “extremely optimistic” premiers would choose to co-operate.
“Housing is a national challenge, and the federal government needs to be leading the charge,” she said.
“My own experience has been when there are big issues that really matter to Canadians, after all the sound and the fury, people are prepared to roll up their sleeves and find a win-win outcome for Canadians.”
Several premiers have pushed back against the federal government in recent months and again after the budget was released on the grounds that some measures touch on provincial jurisdiction.
This week’s federal budget has premiers lashing out at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over a planned increase to capital gains taxes as well as what they say is overstepping on infrastructure and pharmacare.
In a letter released Friday by the Council of the Federation, which represents the leaders of all 13 provinces and territories, the premiers said Ottawa should have consulted them more ahead of the budget.
Individual premiers have shared more pointed critiques.
“It’s a never-ending spending platform that we’ve seen now for the last 10 years,” New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said on CBC’s Power & Politics on Friday.
“My initial thoughts about the federal budget are that they are overtaxing, overspending, overborrowing and over interfering in provincial affairs,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said earlier this week.
Alberta has clashed with the government repeatedly over housing. Smith introduced legislation earlier this month that would require provincial oversight of deals made between municipalities and the federal government, including for future agreements around federal housing funds.
At Issue this week: The Liberals work to sell their multibillion-dollar spending plan and capital gains tax hike. Pierre Poilievre tells Radio-Canada what he thinks of the federal budget. And another province pushes back on the carbon tax.
Freeland said on Sunday that, as an example, the federal child-care program negotiated through a series of deals with provinces and territories showed that co-operation was possible.
Capital gains tax changes criticized
The federal government has also faced some opposition on what was perhaps the most prominent measure revealed on budget day: changes to Canada’s capital gains tax rules. The government has proposed raising the inclusion rate to 67 per cent on capital gains above $250,000 for individuals.
“The 21st-century winner-takes-all-economy is making those at the very top richer, while too many middle-class Canadians are struggling,” Freeland said Sunday, adding the government was asking wealthy Canadians to pay their “fair share.”
“We do need to ensure that we have some revenue coming in. This is a very limited way of ensuring that that occurs,” Treasury Board President Anita Anand said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand joins CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton to talk about the federal budget and its focus on young Canadians — as well as the criticism it’s receiving.
Critics have raised concerns that the changes could result in reduced investment or capital flight.
“The big concern right now … is this going to have a detrimental impact to the progress we’re trying to make in making Canada a hub for innovation,” said Kirk Simpson, CEO of the tech company goConfirm, in a separate interview on Rosemary Barton Live.
“With productivity the way that it is, we want more capital, not less, flowing into business innovation,” Simpson told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.
Freeland said Sunday that the changes will affect very few Canadian individuals — the government estimates 0.13 per cent — and the revenue will go to pay for investments in areas like housing.
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