Public transit users in Quebec not wearing masks can now be refused service

As of July 27, all public transit users in the province have to wear a face mask or covering.

Public transit agencies across Quebec can now refuse riders who aren’t wearing a face mask. The provincial-wide law is in effect for anyone over the age of 12.

On July 13, Quebec made face masks mandatory on public transit throughout the province and offered a two week grace period to allow riders to get accustomed to the new law.

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In June, Quebec Premier François Legault said it’s “relatively easy to catch COVID-19 from another person who isn’t close,” in regards to public transit.

At the time, the premier said Quebecers have been “very good” at following public health instructions but the gradual deconfinement has resulted in more people using public transit throughout the province.

“If we don’t want to see a contagion restart or return to lockdown in this new phase, we need to make masks mandatory on public transit,” he said in French on June 30 from Montreal.

Children between the ages of two and 12 are not required to wear masks, even though public health advises it. Legault says it is unsafe for toddlers under the age of two to wear them, however.

[Prenons soin de nous] ➡️😷⬅️ Le port du couvre-visage est dorénavant obligatoire en transport collectif. Ne l’oubliez pas à la maison avant d’effectuer vos déplacements. Nous demandons votre collaboration afin de respecter cette nouvelle consigne.

⏩ https://t.co/vuP1Tru1Z1 pic.twitter.com/YcX1ZzS4L7

— STM (@stminfo) July 22, 2020

“Let’s be clear,” he concluded, “wearing masks is not about fear but respect. It protects other people. When we wear a mask, we’re not a scaredy-cat, we’re being cautious.”