Marginalized Edmontonians in need of masks, advocates say

Advocates are calling on the city, province and businesses to ensure marginalizedEdmontonians have access to face masks.

As of Saturday, face masks or coverings are required in all indoor public spaces to help curb the spread ofCOVID-19. People who violate thebylaw could be fined $100.

Social justice advocate Mark Cherrington said he's been inundated with texts and calls from people looking for masks, including single mothers and Edmontonians with mental health challenges.

"That's like 10 pop bottles for one mask for somebody that's homeless and has no income," said Cherrington, whose organization, the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights, is accepting donations to supply masks.

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On Sunday, a provincial program ended after distributing40 million free masks in partnership with First Nations communities, places of worship, municipalities and businesses such as McDonalds and Tim Hortons.

But Cherrington said the people he helps often aren't welcome and face extra scrutiny in the businesses or transit stations where masks are handed out.

He hopes business owners including manyin support of the bylaw will consider making a donation to his groupor another agency such as Boyle Street Community Services, the Bissell Centre or iHuman.

Jibril Ibrahim, executive director of the Somali Canadian Cultural Society, said government officials should also make masks more available to Edmontonians newer to Canadaand exercise restraint when issuing fines.

He said many families can't afford the additional expense of buying masks or the $100 ticket for not wearing one, on top of the economic hardshipof thepandemic.

"A lot of people lost their jobs. They are struggling to make ends meet," Ibrahim said.

• Lost in translation: Newcomers need COVID-19 information in their own languages, advocates say

Some newer immigrantsmight not be aware of the bylaw yet because of language barriers and a failure to disseminate the information to those communities, Ibrahimwarned. He urged officers to think twice before issuing a ticket.

"We have to take into consideration parents who have large families, who are working multiple jobs to make ends meet," Ibrahim said. "We don't want to make their lives more difficult."

Peace officers distributingmasks

City spokesperson Geoffrey Driscoll said in June and July the city handed out a million masks.

"Still, not everyone has access to masks, so our officers will provide disposal masks to those who need them most," Driscoll wrote in an email to CBC News.

'The focus of this bylaw is education first. We will only use enforcement as a last resort option and only if needed. Our enforcement officers are playing a critical role in helping Edmontonians understand how and why to wear a face covering."

The bylaw also allows people to use a cloth covering like a homemade mask, scarf or bandanathat fully covers the nose, mouth, and chin andprevents the spread of respiratory droplets.