Walmart, Costco among big box stores fined for not following COVID-19 measures

Jan 20 2021, 2:31 pm

York Region issued 45 charges after doing 1,928 business inspections last week under Ontario’s new Stay at Home order, and fined multiple big box stores.

At the direction of York Regional Council, the York Region COVID-19 enforcement task force continues to inspect businesses across the region to ensure compliance with current public health restrictions and measures.

Between Monday, January 11 and Sunday, January 17, members of the task force visited 1,928 businesses across York Region.

Most followed safety measures, but 45 charges were laid against residents and businesses, with 653 compliance education activities completed.

In total, five Walmarts, five Shopper’s Drug Marts, and one Costco received $880 dollar fines, said York Public Health.

Other retailers include Sobeys, FreshCo, No Frills, and Food Basics.

Fines are laid if the store is not enforcing a proper safety plan, improper use of face masks, and inadequate cleaning.

Here is who issued the 45 charges under the provincial Reopening Ontario Act:

  • 11 charges issued by York Region Public Health
  • 1 charge issued by York Region Transit
  • 7 charges issued by York Regional Police
  • 5 charges issued by the Town of Aurora
  • 2 charges issued by the Town of Georgina
  • 13 charges issued by the City of Markham
  • 3 charges issues by the City of Richmond Hill
  • 3 charges issued by the City of Vaughan

According to the York Region, since March 2020, Public Health Inspectors, municipal bylaw officers and other enforcement agencies have completed 33,773 inspections, resulting in 794 charges and 17,977 compliance education activities.

Over the weekend, additional enforcement efforts took place, including the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development inspections of big-box retailers. The province is expected to report the details of these inspections in the coming days.

“The declaration of provincial emergency issued Tuesday, January 12, 2021 provides authority to all enforcement and provincial offences officers to issue tickets to individuals not complying with provincial stay-at-home orders or those not wearing a mask or face covering indoors, as well as retail operators and companies who do not enforce. Under the emergency declaration enforcement personal also have authority to temporarily close a premise and disperse individuals who are gathering,” the release said.

Officers from the COVID-19 task force will continue to visit essential businesses and various other locations to ensure public health measures under the emergency declaration are being met.

Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

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