The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to remind the public that the violation of emergency orders by the Province of Ontario are enforceable and that the penalties can be severe.
Provincial offences officers and municipal law enforcement officers are now authorized to enforce all emergency orders made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA).
Any residents who are aware of a violation of any Emergency Orders should contact the Ontario Provincial Police Communication Centre by calling 1-888-310-1122.
Provincial orders include:
- Closure of public places and establishments
- Closure of non-essential workplaces
- Prohibiting unfair pricing on necessary goods
- Prohibiting events and gatherings of more than five people
- Closure of all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities.
For details on the provincial orders, please visit: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/ontario-extends-emergency-declar…
“We have a truly exceptional community, which has come together like never before in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. People are volunteering with food delivery, sanitizing shopping carts at Foodland and respecting their request to limit the number of shoppers to one per family. Most people are also observing the social distancing and other advice and orders issued by the Provincial and Federal Governments,” explained Mayor Alar Soever. “Unfortunately, a few have decided to ignore these orders. This is reckless and irresponsible behaviour, which puts the safety of our entire community at risk. We all have a duty to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19.”
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA)
Provincial offences officers and municipal law enforcement officers are now authorized to enforce all emergency orders made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). It is an offence to fail to comply with an emergency order, or to obstruct any person acting pursuant to such an order.
The maximum punishment is one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, $500,000 for a director of a corporation, or $10,000,000 for a corporation itself (EMCPA, s. 7.0.11(1)).
The following offences are available under the EMCPA for violations of Ontario’s declaration of emergency.
(1) Fail to comply with an order made during a declared emergency, contrary to section 7.0.11(1) of the EMCPA.
(2) Obstruct any person exercising a power in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency, contrary to section 7.0.11(1) of the EMCPA.
(3) Obstruct any person performing a duty in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency, contrary to section 7.0.11(1) of the EMCPA.
There have also been several, as yet, unsubstantiated reports of residents who have recently returned from abroad being seen out in the community. This is in violation of the Emergency Order issued by the Government of Canada under the Quarantine Act on March 25, 2020 which requires any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19.
Any residents who are aware of a violation of any Emergency Orders should contact the Ontario Provincial Police Communication Centre by calling 1-888-310-1122.
Failure to comply with this Order is an offence under the Quarantine Act. Maximum penalties include a fine of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for six months. Further, a person who causes a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person while wilfully or recklessly contravening this Act or the regulations could be liable for a fine of up to $1,000,000 or to imprisonment of up to three years, or to both.
For more information, please contact:
Alar Soever
Mayor
(519) 599-3131 ext. 400