Angry criticism of new Ontario police powers as COVID-19 hospitalizations set record
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Toronto Mayor John Tory sits in a chair after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy in Toronto, Saturday, April 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
TORONTO – New anti-pandemic powers that allow police in Ontario to stop any motorist or pedestrian and ask where they live and why they’re not home drew furious criticism on Saturday as the number of infected people in hospital reached record levels.
The added police powers aimed at enforcing stay-at-home orders, they said, were overkill.
“I am very concerned about arbitrary stops of people by police at any time,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a Saturday tweet.
In a note to constituents, Jill Andrew, a provincial New Democrat politician in Toronto, said the measures show just how out of touch the Ford government is.
“Let’s be very real here: We are not going to police our way out of the pandemic,” Andrews said. “The reality here is that this will likely impact Black, Indigenous, and people of colour.”
While violating restrictions can carry a $750 fine, failure to provide police with requested information can result in criminal charges, according to the province’s association of police chiefs.
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Furious criticism of new anti-pandemic powers that allow police in Ontario to stop any motorist or pedestrian and ask where they live and why they re not home prompted the provincial government on Saturday to reconsider the measures.
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TORONTO Furious criticism of new anti-pandemic powers that allow police in Ontario to stop any motorist or pedestrian and ask where they live and why they’re not home prompted the provincial government on Saturday to reconsider the measures.
As the number of infected people in hospital reached record levels, Premier Doug Ford tweeted that the measures, which also included shutting down all outdoor recreational facilities and playgrounds, would be clarified.
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“Ontario’s enhanced restrictions were always intended to stop large gatherings where spread can happen,” Ford said. “Our regulations will be amended to allow playgrounds, but gatherings outside will still be enforced.”