The Hamlet of Rankin Inlet is considering a bylaw that would bar unvaccinated residents from entering municipal buildings.

If council passes the third and final reading of bylaw 326 on Oct. 25, all individuals wishing to enter community-owned buildings will need to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19, effective Nov. 30.

The bylaw will remain in effect until it is repealed or until NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Health ends the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 public health emergency, states a hamlet news release.

SA国际影视传媒淓very person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw shall be deemed to have committed an offence against this bylaw and shall be liable to a fine as outlined,SA国际影视传媒� it states.

The penalties for first, second and subsequent offences are $250, $750 and $2,250, respectively.

According to the policy, many venues and events will be off-limits to the unvaccinated in Rankin Inlet.

These include the community hall, the arena or any hamlet building hosting a public gathering such as bingo nights, weddings or public meetings SA国际影视传媒渞egardless if the event is hamlet sponsored or a third party is sponsoring the event.SA国际影视传媒�

Exceptions will be made only for unvaccinated residents to attend vaccination clinics in municipal buildings.

In addition, the unvaccinated will be allowed into municipal buildings to make payments and apply for permits, services and programs, though theySA国际影视传媒檒l be required to wear a mask while inside.

Those who have not received vaccines due to health reasons will not be free from the new rules: SA国际影视传媒淧ersons exempted from vaccination due to auto-immune deficiencies, allergies or other conditions, should not be gathering in large crowds to start with,SA国际影视传媒� it states. SA国际影视传媒淎nd will not be exempted from this bylaw.SA国际影视传媒�

Residents who want their Covid-19 vaccination certificates with QR codes can call public health in Rankin, said Darren Flynn, the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 senior administrative officer (SAO).

SA国际影视传媒淭he QR codes are available in Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 picked mine up the same day they came out. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l actually print it off for you, and you go pick it up later in the same day.SA国际影视传媒�

The community is following new vaccine passport rules that many other Canadian cities have put in place to try and end the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just got back from a trip to Winnipeg and you canSA国际影视传媒檛 go anywhere,SA国际影视传媒� said Flynn. SA国际影视传媒淵ou canSA国际影视传媒檛 even go to a food court in a mall, sit down, eat your lunch, unless you show proof of vaccination.SA国际影视传媒�

Arviat is also proceeding with a possible third reading of almost an identical bylaw on Tuesday, he said, SA国际影视传媒淭his is fast becoming the norm across the country and in the long-term, itSA国际影视传媒檚 meant to protect the health and safety of our residents.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淐ouncil wants to put this into place in order to try to get things back to normal faster,SA国际影视传媒� said Flynn who added the vaccine mandate could eventually allow the municipality to ease capacity limits in some buildings.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, as long as we have the current situation we have, we will never see (seating) limits on our buildings increased,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur new arena has a seating capacity of 950 people. And itSA国际影视传媒檚 currently restricted to 50 people on the ice and 50 people in the stands.SA国际影视传媒�

The capacity restrictions have been imposed by Dr. Michael Patterson, NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 chief public health officer (CPHO), he noted.

However, if the bylaw passes third reading, SA国际影视传媒渁t that point, council might then have some flexibility where it may be able to increase numbers and work with public health accordingly.SA国际影视传媒�

Flynn noted council would not be SA国际影视传媒渃avalierSA国际影视传媒� with loosening restrictions if the bylaw is adopted.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e not going to automatically open everything up to full capacity,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e going to take a measured approach.SA国际影视传媒�

Flynn said he has received a few complaints about the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 proposed vaccine mandate, SA国际影视传媒渂ut for the most part, the discussion around town, as ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen it, is mostly positive.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople want to try to get back to having bigger assemblies, they want to be able to do things together.SA国际影视传媒�