Waterloo region gets provincial help for COVID-19 enforcement

As cases rise and the region prepares to go into the "red zone" of the provincial COVID-19 framework, local businesses and workplaces can expect to see more enforcement officers stopping by.

Along with city and regional bylaw officers, public health inspectors and police, there are also now 30 inter-ministerial health officers from the province in Waterloo region to help with COVID-19 education and enforcement at local businesses.

Regional Chair Karen Redman said Friday during a media briefing that these officers will be in the region for "a few weeks."

"This supports our own current efforts to build awareness and ensure workplaces stay safe and stay open," she said. "We've seen too many outbreaks in employee settings where COVID-19 is spreading from one worker to another."

Sandy Stevens, the region's director of health protection and investigation, said in an emailed statement to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo that the officers are being offered to all health units in the province. 

"The ministry offered this additional support during the pandemic and we saw no reason not to have additional eyes in the community as we have limited staff available for such work," Stevens said.

Increased enforcement

The additional officers are also helping to set a new tone in the region: one where more tickets may be issued for people not complying with the provincial rules or the region's mask bylaw.

They provincial officers have made 212 site visits and found contraventions in 57 locations under the new "orange zone" restrictions, although Redman noted no charges were laid.

Overall, between Nov. 12 and 18, just one summons was issued. That was at Ming's Restaurant in Cambridge for failing to ensure tables were far enough apart or had barriers up to protect people sitting inside.

"I have instructed staff to increase our enforcement efforts and to use the tools available to enforce, including the Reopening of the Ontario Act and our regional mask bylaw," Redman said.

What do the provincial officers do?

The provincial officers are being provided through the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

A spokesperson for the ministry explained the exact role of the officers is determined after talking with local health units, police and bylaw.

"We are targeting areas where we can best assist existing efforts on the ground. This includes visits to pre-identified sectors, settings or geographic zones based on local intelligence," an emailed statement said.

Some of the work the provincial officers may do includes:

• Looking at how well local businesses and workplaces are screening workers and essential visitors entering workplaces.
• Whether workers are wearing personal protective equipment, including procedural mask and face shield or goggles, in indoor public spaces when workers perform tasks that require them to be within two metres of an unmasked person unless other controls can be implemented like a barrier.
• Checking workplace safety plans for businesses that are required to have one under the new COVID-19 response framework. That includes restaurants and bars, malls, personal care services, casinos, movie theatres, performing arts spaces, meeting and event spaces and sports and rec facilities.

The ministry says most businesses "are doing the right things" and those who are making mistakes can be "coached into compliance without penalties."

When fines are issued, it can range from $750 to $1,000 for a first offence. Serious or repeated violations could see a business issued a fine up to $100,000.

In extreme situations, the directors or officers of a corporation could be fined up to $500,000 or jailed up to one year. The maximum fine for a corporation is $10 million.

The ministry says the extra officers are meant to help "ensure the health and safety of workers, business owners and patrons."

If businesses follow the rules, then they can stay safe and open and the region can avoid the "grey zone" or lock down.