Newmarket bylaw officers now have the power to enforce federal, provincial and public health COVID-19 restrictions by issuing tickets to local residents and businesses. Mayor John Taylor granted them this ability on Thursday by enacting Emergency Order No. 2, as part of the town's efforts to do stricter enforcement and avoid a potential lockdown.
The order instructs every local business to "comply with all federal, provincial, and public health regulations imposed ... and any other legislation introduced in relation to the COVID-19 emergency."
Anyone who fails to follow those rules can now be fined under Newmarket's Administrative Monetary Penalty System Bylaw, which governs everything from municipal animal control fines to parking tickets.
"The town's bylaws division will continue to use an education-first approach when performing inspections on businesses. They are committed to working with businesses to ensure they understand the Provincial and Public Health regulations and allow time for compliance. Issuing charges is the last resort," reads a statement from the Town of Newmarket.
"Issuing tickets under AMPS will streamline the ticketing process and create a simple, accessible, and customer-focused adjudication process for bylaw offences."
Taylor was given the authority to issue emergency orders of this kind back in April when council passed an Emergency Measures Bylaw giving the town the ability to react to the pandemic by temporarily amending and enforcing other bylaws.
Emergency Order No. 2 will remain in place for the next 30 days, after which Taylor can revoke it or bring it before council to be extended.
