Owner of party home could face huge fine

Penalty up to $100,000 possible after hundreds attended Brampton bash

The owner of a Brampton home where a big bash was shut down over COVID-19 distancing violations Saturday night could be facing fines into the tens of thousands of dollars, even as officials say the homeowner was not the organizer of the event attended by more than 200 people. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown on Monday said the case — which has drawn widespread scorn from politicians and the public alike — could prompt a serious penalty, “because it was so egregious.”

“It’s only the serious cases that get referred to the courts,” Brown said. “When you have 200 people, when you’re only allowed 10, I don’t know what t they could say that would ever get them out of this jam.”

City officials said both the homeowner and the organizer can be held to account under tthe public nuisance bylaw for t the party where bylaw officers dispersed more than 200 people Saturday night, although the homeowner has not yet been charged.

“We have to finish the investi- gation and issue the summons,” said JP Maurice, Brampton’s manager of by law enforcement. the A court owner date of the will Countryside be set once Drive home is located and the summons issued, he said. The summons leaves the door open ffor the court to levy a fine rang- ing from a minimum of $500 to up ato $100,000, Maurice said.

Even though it does not appear they organized the event, the homeowner is still being held responsible for not taking reasonable steps to ensure “nothing gets out of control,” he said, adding: “We’re putting the onus on them.” The organizer of the event, was issued an $880 fine at the t scene for failure to comply an emergency order, also faces a summons and a possible fine f have Brown up officers to said $100,000, available Peel he police for said. a blitz will on large social gatherings over the upcoming long weekend.

“We’re a little bit nervous about the long weekend and gatherings,” g for he social said.

At his daily news conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the “full extent of the law needs to be thrown at these people,” suggesting that the media should name and shame the organizer.

Naming people charged with a bylaw offence is not city practice, Maurice said.

Peel Region remains in Stage 2 of the province’s reopening plan, which limits gatherings to a maximum of 10 people who follow physical distancing protocols.

When people hold parties like the Saturday event, they’re “disrespecting other people land breaking the trust in our community,” said Dr. Tushar Mehta, an emergency physician at Brampton Civic Hospital who has also worked at the city’s COVID-19 testing centre.

“I want people to really take this seriously ,” he said, warning that“people may start feeling like if other people don’t care then why should I care.”

Jason reporter Miller for the is a Star Toronto-based covering crime and reporting justice is in funded the Peel by Region. the Canadian His government ism Initiative. through Reach him its Local at jasonmill- Journaler@thestar.ca ter: @millermotionpic or follow him on Twit