June 15, 2021
COVID-19 Enforcement Update
The Manitoba government is providing an update on ongoing enforcement efforts to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19.
A total of 96 warnings and 108 tickets were issued for the week of June 7 to 13 including:
• 95 $1,296 tickets to individuals;
• seven $298 tickets to individuals for failure to wear a mask in indoor public places; and
• two $5,000 tickets to businesses.
Enforcement officials have issued a summons to attend court to Springs Church, for charges related to an incident on or about May 20. Springs Church has been charged with two counts of failing to abide by public health orders: one for conducting an indoor gathering on private property contrary to Order Number 2(1)(a) of the COVID-19 Prevention Orders, and a second count for failing to ensure that every person who is not wearing a mask while in the indoor public place is given a reminder to do so as soon as practicable contrary to Order Number 27(2) of the COVID-19 of the COVID-19 Prevention Orders.
Enforcement officials also note that RCMP arrested an individual from Quebec on Friday afternoon for failing to follow public health orders as a result of unlawful gatherings in Niverville and St-Pierre-Jolys and failing to self-isolate as required. The individual was released from custody with conditions and a subsequent court date. The actions of enforcement officials and RCMP prevented further offences related to attending, participating and organizing public gatherings throughout the province over the weekend.
Ninety of the 95 $1,296 tickets issued were in relation to gatherings in private residences or outdoors, four for failure to self-isolate and one to a sole proprietorship. Enforcement officials continue to investigate all large gatherings and rallies they are made aware of and advise six $1,296 tickets were issued in relation to rallies. All previous events remain under investigation and additional charges are expected. Officials advise the choice to defy public health orders is a serious offence and violators will be held to account.
Manitobans are advised that conservation and park patrol officers are enforcing public health and state of emergency orders within provincial parks, and issued four tickets to individuals over the past week for various offences.
Fine amounts for violating public health orders have been set at $298 for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, $1,296 for tickets issued to individuals for various offences, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $5,000 for tickets issued to corporations.
The Manitoba government has made amendments to the Preset Fines and Offence Descriptions Regulation and the Provincial Offences General Regulation under the Provincial Offences Act to strengthen provincial public health order enforcement for repeat offenders including increased fines for individuals and doubled default conviction amount.
Unpaid fines for tickets for offences under the Public Health Act proceed through the provincial offences court. If the ticket is not responded to during the response period indicated on the ticket, the individual would be default convicted and a $100 default conviction penalty would be applied. In such cases, the individual would also be prohibited from renewing a driver’s license or vehicle registration until the amount is paid. Unpaid amounts are also sent to a collections agency for further collection action. Information related to unpaid fines for tickets is available on Manitoba Justice’s website at www.gov.mb.ca/justice/tickets/index.html.
Almost 3,300 personnel across various agencies are empowered to enforce public health orders to protect Manitobans. This includes RCMP, law enforcement agencies, provincial employees and municipal partners, such as the City of Winnipeg.
Since enforcement efforts began in April 2020, a total of 4,823 warnings and 1,920 tickets have been issued, resulting in over $2.6 million in fines to businesses and individuals.
Updated enforcement statistics are posted online weekly at:
https://manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/departments/index.html#cdr.
Manitobans are urged to continue reporting compliance and enforcement issues by visiting www.manitoba.ca/COVID19 and completing the reporting form, or by calling 204-945-3744 or (toll-free) 1-866-626-4862 and pressing option three on the call menu.
Additional data related to COVID-19, including data on enforcement, vaccines, outbreaks as well as some downloadable and historic data, can be found at https://geoportal.gov.mb.ca/.
The Manitoba government is taking strong action to protect Manitobans and ensure timely access to care. Current orders under the Public Health Act are available at:
https://manitoba.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20212022/orders-soe-06102021.pdf.
Manitobans are reminded to adhere to all current public health orders and stay home. Stick to the fundamentals of physical distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.
For information about activities designed to make staying home a little easier, visit Safe at Home Manitoba at www.safeathomemb.ca/.
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