A message from the Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is requesting that Ontarians voluntarily comply with the new Stay-at-Home Order to limit mobility outside their homes, except for essential reasons, to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
OPP officers will enforce the Stay-at-Home Order, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA), and the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) by focusing on non-compliance in businesses and restaurants, complaints from the public and outdoor gatherings of more than five (5) people. Officers can disperse and ticket individuals found to be non-compliance with the Acts.
Fines are $750 for failing to comply with an order and/or $1,000 for preventing others (including individuals, employees or other workers) from following an order. Maximum fines for individuals are up $100,000 and $10 million for a corporation. Failure to follow the rules can result in prosecution or jail time.
As a reminder, in the absence of a complaint or other grounds, officers will not arbitrarily stop an individual or a vehicle or enter a dwelling for the singular purpose of checking compliance with the order. Individuals are not expected to provide proof of essential work. Officers can ask an individual to identify themselves if they have reasonable grounds to believe the individual is violating an Act.
The OPP asks that 9-1-1 be used for emergency purposes only. If you have questions about the Stay-At-Home order please visit covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-
For non-emergencies – including allegations of non-compliance – contact your police service of jurisdiction. If that is the OPP, call 1-888-310-1122 (toll free in Ontario). In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. For information on the OPP, police record checks, fingerprinting and reporting crime using the Online Reporting tool, visit opp.ca.
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Susan Keetch says
Under the emergency order, are hotels open. I haven’t heard anything on tv. For example is Deerhurst open for guest?
Kathryn Henderson says
You can’t even trust your neighbors and now police can arrest and fine you. This has gone far enough. Stop the lockdown. It isnt a worry to government officials as they travel in planes to different destination s. So quit scaring people and open up store s. Small businesses are no more contagious than Walmart or other big open stores. Small businesses are suffering and will be going bankrupt due to lockdown. It’s crap.
Timothy DeNottbeck says
I agree. We want answers. What is going on here. The first shutdown , no one on the roads, this time really busy. They say its not a curfew , its a lockdown the same as the first with no changes . Well I’d like a curfew ,,,atleast I could see my girlfriend. This lockdown highlites scare tactics, and doesn’t really say anything about entering other communities. So my gf and I can’t see each other and her health isn’t the best ,just found out she has shingles and we can’t afford fines for breaching the lockdown rules. We’re in our 60’s, we just want to be together. Unfortunately live in different communities .
Robyn Dupuis says
This is ridiculous and getting way out of hand. How is it that the snowmobile trails are now no longer open?. An outdoor activity that you can DO ALONE with FULL HEADGEAR is no longer safe?
But we can all go to Walmart and shop?
They say they are doing whats best for our mental health as well.
This is taking a toll on my mental health and the mental health of my 4yr old who has never attended daycare of public school. Cant be further than 1km from your home….what a joke.
Martin Cottreau says
Full stop on lockdowns. Data does not support punitive fines as a method of reducing viral spread. It is up to individuals to makes WISE choices. Individuals chose to see their families during Christmas, the rise in cases is the fallout. As people move back into masking and social distancing the numbers will return to acceptable levels.
We can’t stop covid. It is endemic. We have to live with it. Bolster protections for the vulnerable community and let the healthy community conduct business WISEly.
Listen to the science stop punishing your community.
Gwen Taylor says
I’m following the rules – staying home except for grocery shopping and walking the dogs. I’m the fool – I could be hopping on a jetplane and flying to an exotic location and it would be legal. Something is wrong here!!!!! Some Businesses are finding ways to circumvent the lockdown orders – professional dog handlers are obtaining transport licenses, crossing the border by vehicle to attend dog shows in Southern USA. Because they have their transport license, no quarantine is necessary same as transport truck drivers. Maybe I should get mine so I can visit my husband. We’ll never get out of this lockdown situation until adequate vaccines are available….Mr Trudeau, you screwed up royally on this.