Ontario Government Launches COVID-19 Workplace Inspection Blitz
November 20, 2020
The Government of Ontario has commenced a workplace education and enforcement campaign across the province to ensure businesses takes precautions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Approximately 200 provincial offence and by-law officers are visiting businesses in targeted regions of the province, without notice, to ensure compliance with public health and safety requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 364/20 and Ontario Regulation 263/20 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
In early November, officers visited businesses in the regions of Peel and London-Middlesex. The campaign is currently underway in Waterloo Region and will move next to the regions of Ottawa, York, Eastern Ontario and the City of Toronto.
Fines and penalties for non-compliance range from a ticket of $750 to much more significant penalties if appropriate. If convicted, an individual can be fined up to $100,000 ($500,000 if a director or officer of a corporation) and face imprisonment of up to one year. A corporation can be fined up to $10,000,000.
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