Mandatory masks should be mandatory, says frustrated shopper

A woman with a compromised immune system says major retailers who have made mask use mandatory should be enforcing their own policies.

Vivian Clark is immunocompromised, living with arthritis and “a bunch of other things.”

She does not take a position on wearing masks generally, only when it comes to businesses that say masks are required.

“But if you’re going to advertise as mandatory, I should feel safe in your store and people should have masks on,” Clark told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday.

Clark finds that stores including Walmart and Real Canadian Superstore have shoppers who flout the rules.

“They’ll take like 10, 15 steps in and a couple people just take off their masks. Most people wear them in there because they just got them but some people take them off,” she said.

“If you’re not going to enforce it then don’t say that you’re (making) mandatory masks because it’s not mandatory.”

980 CJME reached out to both retailers asking how store operators are supposed to enforce their mandatory mask policies. Loblaw Companies, which owns the Real Canadian Superstore chain, responded with an email.

“We all have a role to play in keeping one another safe and we expect our customers to respectfully comply with our COVID-related policies, including masks where required and when they are able …,” the email read.

“While stores respectfully remind customers of these policies, for their own safety, we do not require (stores) to enforce them. Customers can speak to the store manager if they have questions or concerns about the policies and procedures at their local store.”

Felicia Fefer, the manager of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada, replied in an email that customers who refuse to wear a face covering won’t be allowed into the store. An employee at the door reminds customers about the policy and, in Fefer’s words, “takes reasonable measures to enforce it.”

“Health Canada has identified that, when worn properly, a person wearing a mask/face covering can reduce the spread of his or her own infectious respiratory droplets,” Fefer wrote. “In addition, over 60 per cent of our more than 400 stores are in regions of the country where there is some form of local government mandate on face coverings.

“For this reason, and to help bring more consistency across our store network, we are requiring all customers and associates working in any Walmart store not already subject to a local government mandate to wear a mask or face covering in areas of our stores accessible to the public.”

It’s a wide range of shoppers who ignore the rules, Clark said, from young parents pushing strollers to seniors.

“That was our first three minutes in the store,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t get it. I sent them a message. I asked them why. Nothing.”