Toronto transit riders could eventually face fines under a new rule requiring them to wear masks or other facial coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but officials said they hope it won't be necessary.
Mayor John Tory and a spokesman for the Toronto Transit Commission both stressed the emphasis will be on educating riders rather than penalizing those who break the rule, which took effect Thursday.
TTC spokesman Stuart Green said the agency will give it "at least a few weeks" before it considers any enforcement measures, which could include a fine of $195.
"We're a long way out from any kind of enforcement that would involve ticketing," he said. "We just started today and our focus is on getting people...familiar with the bylaw, with the requirement that they should be wearing face coverings if they're at all able."
He noted it's not necessary to wear a surgical mask — people can simply cover their faces with a scarf or other cloth.
TTC staff have been handing out disposable masks at transit stations this week in anticipation of the rule coming into effect.
Riders who cannot wear masks due to medical conditions are exempt, as are children under the age of two.
The mayor said transit enforcement officers will not be asking for proof of medical exemption, and warned against any vigilante efforts to enforce the mask requirement.
"Let's remember, people you see not wearing a mask could be people who have a medical exemption and we're not going to be forcing them to produce paperwork on the subway," Tory said during a news conference Thursday.
"I'm hopeful that by the time we get a few days into this, we will see widespread compliance and there will be no need (to ticket). People will do the right thing because it's the right thing to do as opposed to us having to hand out a bunch of tickets."
Other cities that have imposed similar rules, such as New York City, have seen compliance rates close to 90 per cent without enforcement, Green said.
A Toronto bylaw requiring people to wear masks or other face coverings when going into stores or other shared indoor spaces is set to take effect next week, which should help people get used to the change, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 2, 2020.
The Canadian Press
