The official Government of Ontario website seems to directly contradict the now widespread regional laws requiring face masks to be mandated in public. 

As pointed out by Rebel News' Ezra Levant on Twitter: 

Government of Ontario: masks don’t work. Wear masks. Source: https://t.co/790AybDBYR pic.twitter.com/FdqhTyq3zK

— Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) July 11, 2020

"Government of Ontario: masks don't work. Wear masks," the tweet read. 

The current list of cities and regions in Ontario requiring masks in public spaces includes some of the provinces largest and hardest hit: Toronto, Windsor-Essex, Waterloo and Durham.

It also features some of the provinces smallest and least affected:

• Renfrew County, an area home to roughly 88,000 people that has had 27 cases of COVID-19 and one death
• Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, where around 190,000 people live that has had 105 cases and zero deaths
• Sudbury-Manitoulin, part of northern Ontario home to just over 34,000 residents and has had 67 cases with two deaths

Former Progressive Conservative MP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Randy Hillier was skeptical of the regional governments mask mandates, commenting in a retweet of an image of a graph showing when masks were implemented relative to the number of cases in Ontario:

Great time to introduce mandatory masks, very few cases,hospitalizations, fatalities or community spread. If public health know masks are effective, they were negligent in waiting to mandate. But thinking people understand this law is to placate fears not prevent CoVID. #onpoli https://t.co/pvtWGFBoUM

— Randy Hillier (@randyhillier) July 11, 2020

"Great time to introduce mandatory masks, very few cases,hospitalizations, fatalities or community spread. If public health know masks are effective, they were negligent in waiting to mandate. But thinking people understand this law is to placate fears not prevent CoVID," Hillier's tweet said. 

The information stream coming from all levels of government for mask requirements seems to be very contradictory. The federal government merely recommends a facial covering when social distancing is not possible. 

Yet the provincial government boldly proclaims "Face coverings will not protect you from getting COVID-19," mere sentences after previously stating:

"It is recommended that you use a face covering (non-medical mask such as a cloth mask) to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19."

Yet on a local level, many city and regional governments have now taken action to enforce masks in any business open to the public. 

Ontario reported 130 new cases today, a slight increase from the previous day, but a number that still suggests the province is continuing its downward trend towards double digits, a number not seen since March.