Hot spot rule-breakers face fines in crackdown

People who host illegal gatherings in Ottawa could be fined more than $10,000 while their guests could be hit with $750 fines under terms of a COVID -19 crackdown announced by the province.

At a Thursday news conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said social gatherings in the province's COVID-19 hot spots — Ottawa, Toronto and Peel Region — will be restricted to 25 people outside and 10 inside. The new regulations take effect Friday.

“This is a serious situation, folks. We will throw the book at you if you break the rules,” Ford said. “We can't afford to let a few rule-breakers reverse all the hard work and progress the people of Ontario have made over the past six months.”

The new restrictions apply to all private social events, such as birthday parties and backyard barbecues, but do not extend to gatherings in bars or restaurants.

Ford expressed disdain for those now flouting the province's social-distancing guidelines, describing them as “a few fries short of a Happy Meal.”

The premier also announced Thursday that his government intends to legislate a freeze on residential rents in 2021, and extend the current ban on commercial tenant evictions.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said the new restrictions on social gatherings could be extended to other areas of the province if necessary.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province is also close to finalizing its plan to increase COVID -19 testing and lab capacity. The government's goal, she said, is to reach 50,000 tests a day within the next two weeks.

Nepean MPP and cabinet minister Lisa MacLeod announced that three “pop-up” testing centres would soon be opened in Ottawa. She said the locations are still being finalized.

Quebec reported 251 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and three new deaths.

The Outaouais region reported 18 new cases. aduffy@postmedia.com