No changes coming to distancing rules despite warm weather
Backyard meals and pool parties in Niagara still can’t exceed five people, despite the arrival of warm weather.
But there is one exception. If a household consists of more than five people, authorities and municipal bylaw departments have no grounds to issue warnings or fines — unless there are guests gathered with families of five or more, said Niagara Regional Police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin.
Police have heard of situations where bylaw staff have been called to barbecues and groups of people in pools.
“There have been concerns relayed to police in terms of gatherings, which are addressed on a case-by-case basis,” said Sabourin, adding she didn’t have figures on how many fines have been given in
Niagara, or by which of the region’s 12 municipalities.
She could not comment on the level of awareness on the rules that exists in Niagara.
The fine for violating the provincial order is $750.
Although Sabourin had no information on fines given by local governments, she confirmed Thursday that two provincial offences orders have been issued by the NRP — one in Niagara Falls on April 20, the other in St. Catharines April 27.
The Niagara Falls incident involved a man warned for conducting driveway paving, deemed non-essential. He was advised to stop, then fined when officers returned and found him paving another driveway, said Sabourin.
The St. Catharines fine involved a large gathering at a residence, she said.
City of Port Colborne spokesperson Michelle Idzenga said the city is reminding residents of the five-person limit, as is Niagara Region Public Health.
Bylaw staff is not going to homes, and is only responding to complaints on municipal lands while “focusing on education,” she said.
If a complaint is received about a gathering of more than five on private property, police are contacted, said Idzenga, adding no fines have been issued yet.
Ali Khan, Welland’s supervisor of traffic, parking, and bylaw enforcement, said no complaints have been received locally about gatherings at homes and no penalties have been issued.
Khan said enforcement would be shared by the municipality and police if a response to a home was needed.
After 4:30 p.m., it is the responsibility of police.
Andrew Korchok, a spokesperson for Niagara Region, said enforcement of the provincial regulations is the responsibility of local municipalities.
“Our after-hours dispatch line has been receiving questions and complaints around enforcement, but have been forwarding those requests to the relevant municipality,” he said, adding it’s up to each local government to decide its strategy.
Asked whether it’s OK for more than five people to be at the same outdoor private location while practising physical distancing, he said “public health does not believe this is consistent” with the provincial order.
The province is telling people to only have visitors to your home “who you must see,” such as for medical reasons or to have them drop off groceries.
Bylaw staff from Fort Erie responded to a gathering of about 10 people on the weekend in Ridgeway, finding seven people who live at the address. The officers entered the backyard and asked everyone who did not live there to leave, the family said.
Town bylaw enforcement officer Geoff Stevenson and chief administrative officer Tom Kuchyt did not respond to interview requests Thursday.