Port Hope police charged four men on Saturday (May 15) under the province’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for visiting Port Hope to fish.
Over the past month, police have been patrolling the Ganaraska River — a popular fishing destination — to enforce a municipal decision to temporarily restrict access to all its lands bordering the river from Molson Street South to Lake Ontario.
The municipality closed the lands on April 23rd, coinciding with the opening weekend of trout fishing, to discourage out-of-town anglers.
The four men, who appeared to be hiding from police, had travelled from North York, Toronto, Woodbridge, and Markham to fish in Port Hope. Each man received a $880 ticket.
“Port Hope Police will not be stopping a pedestrian or vehicle solely for the purpose of asking where you are from, but we will lay charges if found in contravention of the stay-at-home-orders,” states a police media release.
