'Minor rebellion' ahead as people upset with COVID-19 restrictions act out, North Dumfries mayor says

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton says she's seeing evidence in her township of people who are angry with COVID-19 restrictions, and their actions are putting others at risk.

"Things are getting ugly," Foxton told her fellow councillors Tuesday morning during an update by regional medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang at a regional council committee meeting.

Wang laid out the province's "cautious approach" to reopening, which would see restaurants and movie theatres reopen to 100 per cent capacity and other event and social gathering limits increased by Feb. 21. The provincial plan also calls for a potential further lowering of restrictions on March 14, if there's no spike in new COVID-19 infections.

"Continuing to use the tools that worked to blunt the COVID-19 wave will serve us well," Wang told councillors in her update.

But Foxton said the recent convoy protest to Ottawa, which went through her township along Highway 401, showed her how many in her community are feeling.

She said she was shocked to hear that township residents went to Ottawa in support of the protest. She said she was told that after the convoy passed by, many supporters of the protesters went into a local grocery store unmasked.

People at the grocery store have since called her and said customers now visit daily without a mask "just to prove they can," Foxton said.

"I think we're going to see a minor rebellion and I think that no matter what we suggest, when that March [14] date hits, people are going to assume this is done and over and they're going to act accordingly," she added.

The region's face covering bylaw went into effect on July 13, 2020 and was extended on May 19, 2021. It remains in effect until council reviews it again, which will be when face coverings aren't required under the Reopening Ontario Act.

The bylaw requires people to wear face coverings in all enclosed public buildings. As well, all business owners and operators must post signs at all entrances telling people face coverings are necessary.

But, the region's website notes, business owners and operators "are not required to ensure compliance with the bylaw."

Wang said Tuesday that the large majority of the region's population has complied with the requirements and the requests to wear masks and get vaccinated for COVID-19.

She said it's important to remind people that the actions taken by community members to keep others safe has prevented the situation in local hospitals from becoming worse, particularly during the Omicron wave.

"This has been a very serious wave just because of how transmissible it's been and of the sheer number of people that have needed hospital care," she said.