Corporations violating ‘municipal closures this weekend’ could face up to $10M fines in Aurora
Individuals can also be fined as high as $100K if they don't adhere to emergency measures related to COVID-19
Yorkregion.com
April 14, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb
The town of Aurora is the latest York Region municipality warning its residents of hefty fines under new COVID-19 emergency measures.
“The Town of Aurora will begin strict enforcement of provincial emergency orders and trespassing of municipal closures this weekend,” the town said on April 9, a day before Good Friday.
Citing the Province of Ontario granting municipal bylaw enforcement officers on March 27 the ability to issue fines under the Emergency and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve, Aurora warned that there shouldn’t be any:
- Gatherings of more than five (5) people, inclusive of gatherings on private property but excluding family members who reside at the same address
- Trespassing in areas that are closed to the public (parks, tennis courts, skateboard parks, sports fields, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, playgrounds, Sheppard’s Bush and the dog park)
- Non-essential businesses remaining open
- Price gouging on necessary goods such as hand sanitizers and household cleaners
The town said, “Individuals charged with an offence under the EMCPA will face fines starting at $880. Failing to identify yourself upon the request of a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer conducting an investigation under the EMCPA will result in fines of $1,250.”
However, it continued, “Fines could also carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual and up to $10,000,000 for a corporation.”
On April 8, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario front-line workers deserve a much-needed break and ordered all grocery stores and pharmacies to be shut down on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
In a related story, Vaughan council approved new emergency measures on April 8 to further enforce COVID-19 rules in the city.
In a statement, the city warned that those who don’t comply with the Emergency Measures Bylaw could be subject to fines ranging from $500 to $100,000.
