The province announced this morning (Saturday) it is extending most orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario Act until Feb. 19. This follows on the heels of the Ford government declaring a second provincial emergency on Tuesday of this week and a provincial shutdown coming into effect Thursday.
Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says extending the orders ensures the necessary tools remain available to respond to rising COVID-19 case numbers. She adds, the extension will “provide safeguards for Ontarians, especially our vulnerable populations.”
Under the stay-at-home order, the set fine amounts are: $750 for individuals who fail to comply with an order; $1,000 for corporations who fail to comply with an order; and $1,000 for anyone who prevents an enforcement officer from exercising their powers or performing their duties to enforce the orders.
If convicted, maximum fines for committing an offence range from $100,000 for an individual to $10 million for a corporation, and for an individual, penalties could include up to a year in jail.
The list of orders under the ROA and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act can be found on the Government of Ontario’s website. Throughout the period of the declared emergency, orders under the ROA remain in effect, along with orders under the EMCPA.
