KAWARTHA LAKES-A Bobcaygeon business owner has been fined $24,000 after being convicted of not complying with the Reopening Ontario Act in a Lindsay courtroom today.
Justice Radtke heard that the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit sent two undercover inspectors into the Full Cup Cafe on Main Street on two occasions, October 29 and November 4, 2021. At the time the State of Emergency had ended but restrictions under the Reopening Ontario act remained in place.
The business was charged with six counts of failing to comply. Two each of failing to comply with contact tracing, request of proof of vaccination and ensuring staff and patrons were wearing masks.
The Health Unit issued a Section 22 order to the business on December 22, 2021.
McClennan admitted he had violated the act but said he didn’t feel it was a legitimate law and thus not enforceable. He also said he felt it was discriminatory.
The crown asked for a fine of $45,000. Radtke said he was taking into account the financial position of the business owner who had been forced to spend months closed due to the pandemic and issued a fine of $24,000. This is the first business to be convicted under the reopening Ontario Act in our region. The 50’s Diner in Minden was also charged and will have a court date in March,
Hear from both McClennan and the Health Unit in the video below.
