Flabbergasted.
That was the reaction of a Port Stanley restaurant owner when handed a $1,130 ticket for violating a COVID-19 pandemic protocol.
She was not the only business ticketed. Terrie Collard, owner of Two Forks Restaurant, believes as many as 10 village businesses were targeted in a weekend blitz, two weeks before Christmas.
She was ticketed because the one server working that afternoon was not wearing safety glasses, a Ministry of Labour pandemic requirement according to Southwestern Public Health.
Two weeks before Christmas, this is not OK, complained Collard. Even more frustrating, says adds, is the fact the inspector who ticketed owners was out of the Windsor office of the Ministry of the Environment.
It was part of a southwestern Ontario blitz by inspectors from several provincial ministries that also included businesses in St. Thomas.
It’s another financial blow for Port Stanley business owners that say they are following COVID protocols while struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic and make ends meet in the off-season.
When asked for a report on the infraction, Collard said the inspector wrote it out on the back of his business card.
Collard notes Southwestern Public Health has visited the restaurant during the pandemic and no reference was made to the wearing of safety glasses.
A meeting is scheduled for this evening (Tuesday) in Port Stanley to determine what the next step is for village businesses that feel they were unfairly targeted.
In response to the blitz, MPP Jeff Yurek emailed the following comment.
“I am aware of the situation and looking into it further. I feel that enforcement blitzes should be focused on big box retailers and large sporting events and not small businesses. Affected business owners are encouraged to reach out to my office directly.”
