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Toronto City Council · 2021-02-02 · 2021.MM28.10

The filed record

Ensuring Mask Wearing in Multi-Residential Buildings to Limit COVID-19 Transmission - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Joe Cressy

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The decision

2021-02-02 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on February 2, 3 and 5, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to develop a strategy to ensure individuals adhere to mask-wearing policies in congregate settings in multi-residential buildings, potentially including new education and enforcement measures.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Congregate settings in multi-residential buildings have unfairly presented an unavoidable risk of COVID-19 transmission for many Torontonians. Apartment and condo residents do not have a choice as to whether they enter their building's lobbies, elevators, and laundry rooms. While the Mayor and Council enacted by-laws requiring Landlords and Condominium Boards to put signage in common areas stating that masks are mandatory, the message has unfortunately not been followed by far too many people.

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Over 2,000 complaints of neighbours not wearing masked have been filed through 311 to the City. That is in addition to the many complaints Councillors have received directly. More must be done to address this issue, The Mayor has recognized the issue and sent by-law enforcement to the buildings with the most complaints. This action is a great first step, but more must be done to ensure that mask-wearing is strictly followed within multi-unit residential buildings, especially with the more transmissible UK variant of the Coronavirus having been found in Ontario. While it is incumbent upon Landlords and Condominium Boards to follow the rules and post the signage provided by the City, it is not reasonable to expect them to be able to ensure that every resident wears a mask in common areas of their buildings. That's why this Motion requests City Staff to develop a strategy to promote, and possibly enforce, individual responsibility for wearing a mask to protect their neighbours.

Staff recommended

Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Joe Cressey, reommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to develop a strategy to ensure individuals adhere to mask-wearing policies in congregate settings in multi-residential buildings, potentially including new education and enforcement measures.

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