Masks now mandatory for staff, students at Ottawa's largest school board

Masks are now mandatory for staff,students and visitors at all schools in Ottawa's largest school board, according to an emailed update to parents sent Wednesday evening.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) voted at ameeting late Tuesday to again requiremasks indoorsamid a sixth wave of COVID-19.

Eight trustees with the OCDSBvoted in favour of a motionbyRiver/Gloucester-Southgate trusteeMark Fisher. One trustee opposed the move and three abstained.

"Wecan't pick and choose when safety is important," Fisher said in defending his motion on Tuesday night.

The votecamethree weeks after the province lifted most mask mandates and amid a resurgence of COVID-19 in Ottawa.

Rising wastewater signal far into record territory

The city has recentlysetrecords for the amount of coronavirus observed in local wastewater. Those levels are about three times higher than the previous record set in January 2022.

In a statement to CBC earlier this week, Ottawa Public Health said it strongly recommends people mask up indoors andsupports measures to increase mask use.

"I think the situation in Ottawa over the last couple of weeks has changed considerably,"Fisher said.

WATCH | The trustee's reasons for the motion:

Trustee brings forward mask mandate at OCDSB

2 years ago

Duration 0:58

OCDSB trustee Mark Fisher says his daughter's school was closed twice in one week due to the spread of COVID-19 during the sixth wave, and masks will help limit the spread.

The school board, which represents over 70,000 elementary and high school students, had113 self-reported COVID-19 cases among staff and studentsas of Tuesday, according toassociate director of education Brett Reynolds.

Several trustees spoke of classes or schools being closed in their zones.

CHEO, eastern Ontario's children's hospital in Ottawa, had five patients with COVID-19 as of late Monday, all of whom were admitted for reasons other than COVID-19.

'More divisiveness'

Barrhaven/Knoxdale-Merivaletrustee Donna Blackburn was the lone voteagainst Fisher's motion, sayingmasking isn't required in many other parts of society.

"I refuse to give people a false sense of security," she said.

"I think putting this in place will cause more people to wear masks," counteredRideau-Vanier/Capital trustee Lyra Evans, who voted in favour.

Innes/Beacon Hill-Cyrvilletrustee Sandra Schwartz, who abstained, said that while she's in favour of masking, she couldn't vote in favour of a motion she saidcan'tbe enforced,amounts to "window-dressing" and leads to division and distrust.

"There's no upside here, only more divisiveness and emotionally charged reactions," she said.

WATCH | A sample of the early reaction to the mask vote:

Reaction to OCDSB voting to bring own mask mandate

2 years ago

Duration 0:44

Parents and a crossing guard approve of the decision to mandate masks inside schools within Ottawa's largest school board.

Enforcement likely 'somewhat soft'

Asking on CBC's Ottawa Morning, before it was announced the mandate would be in forcefor schools on Thursday, board chair Lynn Scott said she expectedstudents without masks would be asked to put one on, "but if they didn't do it I'm not sure there could be any specific measure taken."

Even when mandates were previously in force,"enforcement was somewhat soft," Scott said. "Our kids need to be in school learning."

The email update says schools will callparents of students who do not comply and ask them to encourage mask use or apply for an exemption for reasons that are medical, or religious or for learning needs approved bythe school's principal.

"We recognize that there will be cases of non-compliance," the update reads. It goes on to say staff have been asked to show understanding and promote awareness.

It says the board has the legal authority to mandate masks despite the province continuing to not require them, though it also says suspensions or expulsions will not be used to enforce the mandate.

As for staff, if they fail to abide by what theiremployer requiresthey'd be subject to progressive discipline that could result in being placed on leave without pay, Scott said.

WATCH | High school students mixed on mandating masks again:

High school students mixed on mandating masks again

2 years ago

Duration 0:47

Students at Nepean High School in Ottawa were mixed about being forced to wear masks again inside the school.

Previous motion failed in March

Tuesday night's meeting marked the second time in recent weeks that masking was front and centreat an OCDSB meeting.

Beforethe province lifted mask mandates on March 21, trusteesconsidered extending mandatory maskinguntilApril 8 for kindergartento Grade 12 but ultimately didn't have the votestodefythe province.

The March 14 motion failed to pass in a tie vote, with six opposed and six in favour.

Premier Doug Ford has spoken out against school boards wishing to go their own way on masking.

"The chief medical officer is the expert," Ford said last month, adding that Dr. Kieran Moore did his "due diligence" in ending the mask mandate. "Follow the direction of the chief medical officer, plain and simple. That's what we expect and hopefully they do that."

Moore said Monday masks are strongly recommended indoors, but it's not the time to bring back those mandates.

OttawaCentre NDP MPPJoel Harden has called on Ford's government to reinstate masking, citing Ottawa's recent wastewater data.