Point Edward Council has approved mandatory masks in the village.
Council voted 3-2 in favour of a temporary order during a special meeting Thursday.
Councillor Larry Gordon supported the bylaw, saying council has always encouraged the use of masks when physical distancing was not possible.
"However, due to changing circumstances, information, and knowledge, I now believe it's time to send a stronger message to the village and perhaps even more importantly, our visitors," said Gordon. "Let there be no question, no confusion, Point Edward is not a mask-free zone."
A motion by Deputy Mayor Greg Grimes to defer the decision until Lambton County Council again considers a county-wide bylaw on September 2, was defeated.
"I feel that any laws or requirements with set fines, possible court action and the needs for enforcement to deal with the pandemic should be induced by the province or the county," said Grimes. "If they aren't happy with how the pandemic response is being managed by their health experts, then they should deal with the direct reports accordingly."
Councillor Paul Burgess joined Grimes in not supporting the motion and expressed concern about how the bylaw will be enforced.
"My teenage son just got a job working at a retailer, he was doing training and a manager had to be called out to deal with an irate customer that said they wouldn't wear a mask -- those are the concerns that I have with imposing a bylaw," said Burgess. "I believe in our recommendations, I think we are getting the message out for hand washing, social distancing, and highly recommending mask use."
Mayor Bev Hand supported the motion. She said that children are wearing masks to go to school and feels the rest of the public should be wearing masks to support them.
"I look at this as a short-term measure of protection, same as we did with our lockdown, staying at home, keeping our office closed -- one more act to try and do everything we can to mitigate what we might be facing in the fall," said Hand.
Councillor Tim Mondoux said the bylaw is one more level of protection for each other.
"This measure will also help to prevent a second wave of this disease, especially if people become complacent. We are not through dealing with this pandemic, as this is the new normal for the foreseeable future."
Mandatory masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, including provincial and federal buildings, as of Tuesday, August 25.
Those who fail to comply could be fined up to $1,000.
Point Edward joins the City of Sarnia, Petrolia, and Lambton Shores to pass a mandatory mask bylaw.
Councils in St. Clair Township and Plympton-Wyoming voted down similar bylaws.
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