The Source at the Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket was among 30 York Region businesses hit with fines for violating COVID-19 public health restrictions last week.
Newmarket bylaw officers charged the electronics store with not following mandatory masking measures, with a fine of $880.
This was the only business in Newmarket to be charged between Jan. 25 and 31, although 110 local inspections were carried out, and education notices were issued at each one.
Elsewhere in the region, many of the charges laid against businesses last week were for not having a business safety plan.
The Reopening Ontario Act requires businesses to have a safety plan that describes all "the measures and procedures which have been implemented or will be implemented ... to reduce the transmission risk of COVID-19."
Specifically, the plan should describe how screening, physical distancing, disinfection, and masking wearing will be ensured at the workplace. It must be available to anyone to read upon request, and posted in a place where employees and customers can read it.
Thirteen of the 30 York Region businesses charged last week did not provide a safety plan:
- Tina's Grill, Aurora
- Adore Fusion, Markham
- Bur Oak Discount Pharmacy, Markham
- H&M Ceramic, Markham
- Keung Kee Congee, Markham
- Les Chateux Restaurant, Markham
- O Nezo Tapioca, Markham
- Oh Cake, Markham
- Pine Tree Garden, Markham
- Pizza 786, Markham
- Shell Gas, Markham
- Subway, Markham
- Top Beauty Supply Inc., Markham
All told, there were 1,809 inspections carried out across York Region last week, with 474 education notices issued.
The charges laid by each agency are:
- York Region Public Health: 1
- York Region Transit: 3
- York Regional Police: 1
- Town of Aurora: 1
- City of Markham: 19
- Town of Newmarket: 1
- City of Vaughan: 4
