The province’s stay-at-home order, which came into effect yesterday, will be enforced by Collingwood OPP and the town’s bylaw staff.
Under emergency law, the government is allowing people to leave their homes for essential purposes only, which can include going to the grocery store, pharmacy, medical appointment, work, or getting exercise. The order prohibits outdoor gatherings larger than five people from different households and prohibits any indoor social gatherings.
You can read about the order here.
Premier Doug Ford has stressed the order will be enforced.
In Collingwood, OPP will, during their regular patrols, be supporting the province’s stay at home order “in an effort to limit transmission of COVID-19.”
Constable Martin Hachey of Collingwood/The Blue Mountains OPP said the OPP will work with bylaw officers to disperse and/or fine unlawful gatherings and shut down and/or fine businesses contradicting the order.
Several businesses were ordered to close except for curbside pick up as part of the province-wide shutdown.
Greg Miller, Collingwood’s chief building official who also oversees the bylaw department, said the towns bylaw services division will work with OPP and health unit inspectors on “appropriate enforcement.”
“This will include a combination of proactive and reactive patrols,” he said.
Individuals can report contraventions of the province’s stay at home order to the town’s bylaw department or to the police via the non-emergency line (1-888-310-1122). Do not call 911 for this.
“A person being outside does not mean they are breaching safety measures,” said Const. Hachey. “Officers will engage individuals and investigate if they have reasonable grounds to believe the individual is violating the government measures but … in compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code or Canadian Charter of Rights.”
To read the full stay-at-home order issued by the province, click here.
