The Bracebridge detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged eight individuals from the Greater Toronto Area for breaking current stay-at-home orders by visiting a cottage in Gravenhurst.
On May 1 at 10:30 p.m., OPP officers responded to an anonymous complaint from a member of the public about the Gravenhurst cottage gathering. “Our local bylaw officers are doing enforcement and, depending on the nature of the complaint, public health,” said OPP provincial constable Samantha Bigley. “We do respond to concerns when we get a call from a member of the public, and that’s what happened Saturday night.”
Bigley added that their detachment frequently receives calls about gatherings, and, depending on the situation, OPP officers will try to educate and clarify restrictions for the individuals gathered. “As we’ve moved through the various stages and colour zones over the last several months, with the rules changing, it seems, so frequently, people may not know exactly what they’re allowed,” she said.
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), Ontario’s current stay-at-home order prohibits indoor gatherings with people from other households.
“The current stay-at-home order is pretty clear. There’s been lots of information,” Bigley said. “The general guideline is if it’s not essential then please stay home.”
For breaking the stay-at-home orders, each of the eight individuals from the Gravenhurst cottage gathering now face a $750 fine.
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