A 60-year-old man is facing $880 in fines after violating Ontario’s stay-at-home orders.
Members of the Atikokan OPP say on May 2, officers responded to an anti-lockdown demonstration outside of the Atikokan Arena. Police say they saw a male they had previously spoken to and warned for not abiding by the orders at the demonstration.
As a result of their investigation, 60-year-old James Niro of Atikokan was charged with failing to comply with an order made during a declared emergency, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. It carries an $880 fine.
Everyone is asked to only leave their homes for essential reasons. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or who has been in contact with a positive case of the virus is asked to immediately self-isolate, get tested and remain in isolation until your test results are known
Individuals who are required and told to self-isolate by public health staff but fail to do so can be charged and fined from $750 up to $5,000 per day. As well, you can be fined between $750 and $1,000 for not complying with the stay-at-home orders or not wearing a face covering when required.
The fines can be given by members of the OPP or your local police service, as well as members of the Northwestern Health Unit, under Ontario’s Class Order under Section 22. It, and the Health Protection and Promotion Act, also state the NWHU can go to court to seek an order to confine a person within a hospital or appropriate facility until the self-isolation period is over.
Ontario’s stay-at-home orders are expected to remain until May 20 at the earliest, if they’re not extended by the province.
