1 POLICY

1.01 The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning, teaching and working environment.

1.02 The purpose of this policy is to fulfill this commitment, help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to maintain compliance with city, federal, provincial and Public Health regulations and guidelines.

1.03 The use of masks or face coverings is mandatory in all indoor public spaces at CCNM.

2 SCOPE

2.01 This policy applies to all individuals who enter a CCNM facility.

3 DEFINITIONS

3.01 “College Community” – a community that includes CCNM employees, students, residents, clinic patients, visitors, contractors, and other stakeholders formally recognized by the College (i.e., BMS, IBC, and ONA).

3.03 “Face Coverings” – for the purpose of this policy, face coverings refer to the following:

• a cloth (non-medical) mask
• medical mask,
• other face covering such as a bandana or scarf that securely covers the nose, mouth and chin, and is in contact with the surrounding face without gapping, and filters respiratory droplets, and
• face shields, or shield and mask combinations.

3.04 “HR Business Partner & EDI Officer” – under this policy, the HR Business Partner and EDI Officer is responsible for receiving mask exemption requests and coordinating communication related to the requests.

3.05 “Legal Counsel” – reports to the Executive Director, Human Resources and provides general legal counsel to the College. Under this policy, the Legal Counsel is responsible for conducting investigations of concerns and incidents, and for reviewing and determining all mask exemption requests.

3.06 “Manager, Maintenance & Security” – reports to the Director, Facilities & Procurement. Under this policy, the Manager, Maintenance & Security is responsible for:

• Coordinating and ensuring appropriate communication of this policy to all community members;
• Addressing concerns and incidents that arise under this policy, and reporting on those concerns.

4 PRINCIPLES

4.01 Face coverings offer a level of protection to the community that is supplemental to other control measures such as frequent hand washing/hand sanitizing, cough and sneeze etiquette and physical distancing requirements.

4.02 Private office spaces and other work areas where the public is not invited or permitted access, and that are occupied by only one person are areas where wearing masks or face coverings is not required.

4.03 Any member of the College community visiting another member’s private/office space etc. must respect the person’s area and wear a face covering when visiting the other member, actively distancing at all times.

5 RESPONSIBILITIES

5.01 All College Community Members share a social responsibility to contribute to the safety and well-being of the College community, and will communicate the importance of this policy to all visitors of the College.

5.02 The College will:

• promote community awareness of this policy, its objectives and the responsibilities and obligations it imposes;
• maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all information collected in the mask/face covering exemption process to the extent possible under this policy.

5.03 For the Toronto campus, the primary responsibility for dealing with concerns under this policy will rest with the Security Department, and the Manager, Maintenance & Security in consultation with Legal Counsel, will be responsible for overseeing the investigation and tracking of concerns until their resolution.

5.04 For the Boucher campus, specific procedures have been put in place in alignment with the direction from BC authorities. Please see the CCNM-Boucher Fall Campus Plan for details.

6 EXEMPTIONS

6.01 The College will be respectful of individuals who are unable to wear a mask because of their age or medical condition and will endeavour to provide alternative service to people who are unable to wear a mask.

6.02 The following individuals may be exempted from wearing a mask under this policy. Each circumstance will be reviewed accordingly.

• Children under two years of age.
• Persons with an underlying medical condition- such as breathing difficulties or cognitive difficulties/disability - that inhibits their ability to wear a mask or face covering.
• Persons who are unable to place, remove, or use a mask or face covering without assistance.
• Employees and operators of the establishment, in an area not designed for public access or within or behind a physical barrier who are able to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the indoor area.
• Individuals who are reasonably accommodated by not wearing a mask or face covering in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
• Individuals who are reasonably accommodated under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the British Columbia Human Rights Code.

6.03 Masks may be temporarily removed when:

• Receiving services that require the removal of their mask.
• Actively engaging in an athletic or fitness activity in the fitness facility area.
• Consuming food or drink.
• Emergency or medical purpose, receiving or giving assistance.

6.04 On the Toronto Campus, mask exemption requests are submitted to the HR Business Partner and EDI Officer and must include:

• Completed COVID-19 Vaccination/Mask Exemption Request Form,
• Any supporting documentation related to the request, for example, the requestor’s analysis of how specific tenants of the faith would prohibit the use of a mask or a face covering (for a religious exemption).

6.04 Exemptions do not apply to students or staff who are delivering clinical care or who are participating in practicums. In these cases, the accommodation may involve an extended time period for completion of the naturopathic program, so that activities can be resumed when the mask mandate is no longer in place.

7 PROCEDURE

7.01 Security and screening staff will advise persons entering the building of the policy.

7.02 Signage is posted to support this policy, and it is posted on the CCNM website.

7.03 Any College community member may advise persons, who they observe to not be wearing a mask/face covering, of the mandatory requirement to do so. Community members are encouraged to bring any concerns forward to Security, Management or Senior Leadership.

7.04 College community members are not expected to actively and directly enforce this requirement if the non-compliant person becomes argumentative or belligerent, but community members are encouraged to bring matters forward to Security or the Screeners in the lobby area.

7.05 Persons not wearing masks/face coverings may be subject to the College’s disciplinary sanctions.

8 POLICY REVIEW

8.01 This policy will be reviewed and revised as required.