THUNDER BAY – Hockey nets will return to the city's outdoor ice rinks, despite concerns the move will encourage violations of provincial lockdown rules.
City council debated the issue for a second time Monday, with several councillors expressing frustration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit for a lack of clear guidance on the issue.
While team sports are clearly prohibited on ice rinks, there’s no rule against hockey nets. Some councillors saw that as a distinction without a difference.
“This [is about] the city being perceived as inviting and facilitating team sports, when the province has made it strictly prohibited,” said Coun. Mark Bentz. “Nets are an invitation for a game. You can claim you’re just going to shoot on a net… but you can just as easily practice your shot against the boards.”
Given the sacrifices being made to fight the virus, Bentz argued removing nets was a small and painless step that could prevent the risk of spread, given previous complaints they’d attracted games before being removed by city staff in January.
City administration stood by its recommendation to remove the nets during lockdown, which is now expected to last until at least Feb. 16.
Other municipalities have removed their own nets for similar reasons, said city manager Norm Gale.
Council had directed city staff to seek guidance from the local health unit, but that proved in short supply.
“The health unit will not confirm whether the nets should or should not be on the ice,” Gale told councillors. “That decision, in the view of the health unit, is the responsibility of the operator of the rinks.”
Considering the city runs the risk of being fined if games do break out on its rinks, several councillors saw that as irresponsible.
“I really don’t agree with [the health unit] not giving us a clear answer,” said Coun. Shelby Ch’ng.
However, a slim majority of councillors concluded there was no reason to deprive residents of badly needed recreation opportunities, saying it was up to the city to ensure the rules against games were enforced.
“Like any other business, it’s up to us to enforce the rules and regulations that are there," said Coun. Aldo Ruberto. "The rules indicate there should be no team play. There’s no rule saying the nets can’t be there and some kid can’t take shots on the net.”
General manager of development and emergency services Mark Smith confirmed no tickets had been given out by city enforcement officers, though they had made consistent visits to rinks and spoken with skaters dozens of times in recent weeks.
The city had received three complaints of COVID violations involving its rinks, along with some observations of violations, Smith said.
Provincial rules set a maximum of 25 people on the ice at one time and require two metres of distance between skaters, as well as forbidding team sports.
Mayor Bill Mauro argued the violations could have been prevented with more attention from the city.
“All we had to do was some enforcement, plain and simple, and the whole thing would have been avoided,” said Mayor Bill Mauro.
Councillors voted 8-5 to return the nets, with a provision for city administration to monitor compliance and report back if closure of the rinks is deemed necessary.
Councillors Aiello, Ch’ng, Fraser, Giertuga, McKinnon, Oliver, Ruberto, and Mayor Mauro voted to return the nets.
Councillors Bentz, Foulds, Hamilton, Johnson, and Peng voted against.
