NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF NEWMARKET
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With the holiday weekend around the corner, the Town of Newmarket would like to remind residents to only celebrate Easter and Passover with those who live in your household, in an effort to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Newmarket has been identified by York Region Public Health as a community that has not yet reached its peak of COVID-19 cases. Please keep in touch with extended family and friends by calling or using video chats, but do not host holiday gatherings this weekend. The Town has increased bylaw enforcement and will continue to issue fines starting at $750 for people who do not comply with emergency orders.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of limiting your activities and complying with all of the provincial orders around physical distancing and social gatherings,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “Newmarket’s trails and green spaces remain open for now because we recognize the importance of fresh air, remaining active and the impact this has on our collective mental health during these difficult times. If people do not comply there will be harsh consequences, including hefty fines and further closures.”
Newmarket, along with many neighbouring communities, has moved from an education-based approach to stronger enforcement, including fines starting at $750. This includes increased bylaw officers throughout the community. Bylaw officers are active in our efforts to ensure compliance with the emergency orders. The bylaws department has and will continue to issue fines.
The Town will continue to strictly enforce the following emergency orders and issue fines for non-compliance:
- Social gatherings of more than five people. Please note that families and households where more than five people reside are exempt from this provision.
- For example, a family of six is permitted to take a walk together. Always practise physical distancing when outside and stay a minimum of two metres (six feet) away from anyone who does not live in your household.
- It is recommended that any group of people who do not live at the same address should not participate in any social gatherings. For example, three friends should not get together to go for a walk, have a dinner party, backyard campfire or any other social gathering. Closure of playgrounds and park amenities. All playgrounds and park amenities throughout the Town of Newmarket (including tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, baseball diamonds, sports fields and the Newmarket Dog Park) are currently closed. Residents are not permitted to use these facilities under any circumstances and any use would be subject to a $750 fine.
- At this time the trails and open spaces (including wide-open park areas) within Newmarket’s borders remain open for walking, jogging and bike riding. For example, a family residing in the same household can go for a walk or bike ride on the Tom Taylor Trail, but must practise safe physical distancing at all times [remain at least two metres (six feet) from all other people]. Residents are permitted to walk their dogs in wide-open park areas and on the trails, but please remember dogs must be on-leash and physical distancing must be practised at all times.
- Closure of non-essential businesses and price gouging on necessary goods such as disinfectant products – To report non-essential businesses that remain open and/or price gouging, please contact the Town of Newmarket at 905-895-5193 for follow up by the bylaws department.
Report non-compliance
If you see inappropriate use at closed playgrounds and park amenities, please email [email protected] or call 905-895-5193 to report it. The Customer Service Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individuals who are charged with an offence under the EMCPA will be required to identify themselves if asked by a municipal bylaw enforcement officer. Failing to do so can carry a fine of $1,000 for obstructing a municipal bylaw enforcement officer.
In addition, failure to comply with an emergency order carries a starting fine of $750 or could also carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual. These penalties will apply in addition to breaching other emergency orders. For more information and updates, visit newmarket.ca/covid19 or follow us on social media @TownofNewmarket on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For more information on COVID-19, visit York Region Public Health’s website at York.ca/covid19 or the Province of Ontario’s website at ontario.ca/coronavirus.
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