Official who welcomed anti-mask protester in Maple Creek is Sask. president of health inspectors' association

A Maple Creek, Sask., official caught on video shaking hands and welcoming an anti-mask protester last weekend is a senior public health inspector and the president of the provincial chapter of a national health inspectors' association, CBC News has learned.

In the video, public health inspector Bradford Giesbrechtshakeshands with a man leading an anti-maskconvoy in the town on Saturday.After shaking hands, Giesbrechtinvites the maskless man to check out the local restaurants and tattoo parlour.

"You need anything, you let me know," Giesbrecht tells the man. "Awesome place, make sure you spend some time."

Giesbrecht is listed on the website of theCanadian Institute of Public Health Inspectorsas its Saskatchewan chapter president.

"It's incredibly reckless," said Michael Morrow, a former Maple Creek town councillor. "The public health inspector is supposed to keep us safe. I can't believe he'd do that."

The Saskatchewan Health Authority declined to discuss the actions of the senior public health inspector, but saidanti-mask ralliesin Maple Creek and other cities over the weekend have caused the authority to rethink itsenforcement strategy.

"We are consulting with government on what can be done to ensure stronger and more consistent punitive actions are taken to ensure compliance with public health restrictions," the health authoritysaid in an email.

"In general, the SHA is highly concerned that these so called 'freedom' rallies and anti-masking events organized to protest public health precautions feed conspiracy theories and misinformation," the statement said.

"They also send the false message that our health-care workers at the front line are somehow faking or making up the loss of life and trauma occurring as a result of COVID.

"This is not only offensive but dangerous, as it publicly downplays the significant risk of harm and death created by community transmission of this virus."

Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Paul Merrimanhave also condemned the rallies, but it's unclear what, if any, enforcement action will be taken.

The Maple Creek event welcomed a caravan from out of province, while Saskatoon anti-maskers hosted a children's festival, complete with face painting.

Morrow and some other Maple Creek residents say they were horrified to see the health inspectorwelcoming protesters violating provincial health orders, which currently limit outdoorgatheringsin Saskatchewan to a maximum of10 people.

They see that as a symbol of the lax enforcement by police,public health officials and government, and say dangerous group gatherings must be stopped through strong enforcement.

"These rallies do damage to our community, our province and the rest of Canada," said Morrow.

The website for the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors saysits members play an "integral" role during the pandemic inenforcing public health laws.

Neither the CIPHI nor Giesbrechtcould be reached for comment.

Alberta health officials are warning anyone who attended the cross-country protest that stopped in Maple Creek to get tested and isolate after a COVID-19 case was confirmed among the participants.

The Maple Creek area is currently dealing with rising case counts and hospitalizations, in part due to large maskless gatherings, according to health officials.