Toronto Mayor John Tory calls for stricter coronavirus enforcement from police, municipal officials

Theglobeandmail.com
April 14, 2020

Toronto Mayor John Tory is calling for stricter enforcement of COVID-19 measures after seeing some people not take physical distancing seriously.

The mayor has pushed for tougher enforcement in a letter he sent to Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders and Carleton Grant, the municipal licensing and standards executive director.

Mr. Tory’s letter says he believes the time has come for more tickets because authorities are still having informational chats with hundreds of people who aren’t physical distancing.

Mr. Tory says the city has received reports of people who don’t live together hosting bonfires on the beach, hanging out in groups in parking lots and playing pickup sports in closed areas.

While the mayor cannot direct law enforcement on how to enforce the law, he says stricter enforcement would protect the city’s health and help it expedite a return to normal.

COVID-19 has killed more than 75 people in Toronto, which has reported at least 1,891 cases of COVID-19.