Toronto bylaw officers won't target trick-or-treaters: City officials

Torontosun.com
October 20, 2020
Bryan Passifume

Trick-or-treating isn’t a crime, say Toronto officials.

The city has no plans to ticket trick-or-treaters.

That clarification came late Monday afternoon in response to a Toronto Sun article on comments made by Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, the city’s emergency management head.

“Our enforcement teams are active every day and night of the year, and that will certainly be the case on Halloween,” Pegg said in response to a reporter’s question, adding there’s “no blanket answer.”

Both city spokesman Brad Ross and Pegg contacted theSun to walk back the comments, clarifying that no bylaws exist forbidding trick-or-treating, and that his response referred to parties that exceed COVID-19 containment rules forbidding large gatherings.

“The recommendations provided by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health are just that -- strong recommendations that are in the best interest of public health,” Pegg said in an email.

Earlier on Monday, the province warned against trick-or-treating in COVID-19 hotspots like Toronto, Peel and York.

City officials doubled-down on the province’s recommendations, even though trick-or-treating largely takes place outdoors as mask-wearing children -- often with no physical contact -- collect pre-packaged candy.

Pegg urged anybody who spots illegal gatherings or activities on Halloween night to call 311.