A Chatham man is trying to reduce the stigma for those who have legitimate medical reasons not to wear a face mask when out in public.
Murray Holland was denied entry to a local grocery store recently.
“They want me to wear a mask, and I have medical reasons for which I’ve been on medication for over 15 years, also I have hearing aids,” Holland says. “When I told (the store owner) that, he said it didn’t matter, he said this is a privately owned grocery store and that’s the way I’m running it and you’re not allowed in and I don’t care what you say.”
Holland says he’s tried contacting a lawyer to fight for the rights of those who are medically unable to wear a mask, but no one will take his case.
In an emailed statement to CKXS News, David Taylor, Chatham-Kent’s Director of Legal Services, says he can’t comment on this specific case. However, he says “under the Chatham-Kent Mask Bylaw and the Provincial Regulation requiring masking in indoor public spaces, individuals claiming a medical exemption are not required to provide evidence to support the exemption.”
Holland says he’s been in touch with officials at the Civic Centre and MPP Rick Nicolls’ office, and believes business owners shouldn’t be allowed to deny service, especially grocery stores and pharmacies.
“I’d like to be something done, get people to start contacting city hall or the MPP to get something passed to make it so they know it’s mandatory that grocery stores cannot refuse you,” Holland says. “You need that food to stay alive.”