The Peterborough Police Service is reminding residents that police are continuing to enforce emergency orders made under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA).
The emergency orders include the closure of non-essential workplaces, public places, and bars and restaurants, as well as a prohibition on gatherings of five or more people — even at someone’s home (unless the people live together).
Over the course of the Easter long weekend, Peterborough police received and responded to 23 EMCPA-related complaints and issued three warnings.
While no charges were laid in the 23 incidents, police have the option to lay charges for three offences under the Provincial Offences Act:
- Fail to comply with an order made during an emergency = Fine of $750
- Obstruction of person exercising a power in accordance with an emergency order = Fine of $1,000
- Obstruction of person performing a duty in accordance with an emergency order = Fine of $1,000
- Corporations (as a Part 3 offence) Fine = $500,000
People who are being charged with an offence under EMCPA are also required to identify themselves if asked by a provincial offences officer, which includes police officers, First Nations constables, special constables and municipal by-law enforcement officers. This temporary power was approved by the Ontario government on Tuesday, March 31st through an emergency order.
Failing to correctly identify oneself carries a fine of $750 for failure to comply with an order made under the EMCPA, or $1,000 for obstructing any person in exercising a power if a provincial offences officer issues a ticket.
In addition, failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, $500,000 for a director of a corporation, or $10,000,000 for a corporation itself if a provincial offences officer charges the individual by issuing a summons.
These penalties apply in addition to the penalties for breaching other emergency orders.
Peterborough residents who wish to report a complaint of a violation of EMCPA should call the non-emergency line at 705-876-1122. Do not call 9-1-1 to report ECMPA complaints.
On Tuesday (April 14), the Ontario legislature is expected to approve the extension of Ontario’s state of emergency by another 28 days.
The provincial government first declared a 14-day state of emergency on March 17, 2020. Under the ECMPA, a state of emergency can be extended for one additional 14-day period (until April 14th) with further 28-day period extensions requiring a vote in the legislature.
