Last week, the province warned that stepped-up enforcement was coming for people who ignore public health orders—and in the process, put their fellow Manitobans at risk. In a press conference on Wednesday, October 21, the province has followed through on that pledge.
“We are announcing addition enforcement measures to protect Manitobans and limit spread in our communities,” says Premier Brian Pallister. “The vast majority are doing everything the doctors order’s asked them to do, and they’re doing the fundamentals. And I thank Manitobans for that… but COVID is diligent, and we must be even more diligent. Protecting each other is the job that we face, and at the end of the day additional enforcement measures are needed to get us back on track, to bend the curve.”
Starting immediately, individuals who fail to comply with public health orders will be issued fines of $1,296. This is a sharp increase from the previous amount of $486. For corporations, the fine was previously $2,542 and will now rise to $5,000. Amendments have been made to the Preset Fines and Offence Descriptions Regulation that establish these new fine amounts.
As of October 12, the province had issued 134 tickets to individuals and corporations.
Pallister also announcement that the province is in the process of writing new regulations which will employer local governments and municipal bylaw enforcement officers to issue these increased fines. He says this process will be complete soon and will add 430 enforcement officials throughout the province.