Hamilton bar Cause and Effect charged a 3rd time for breaking COVID-19 rules

A bar in Hamilton has been ticketed by bylaw officers for breaking COVID-19 regulations for athird time.

Cause and Effect, on Stone Church Road East,was chargedagain on Sunday following several tickets in March 2021 and December 2020. According to the city's online database, the June tickets were issued for having music above the permitted volume and forviolating face-mask rules under the Reopening Act of Ontario.

"This is not new.This is not rocket science," said Paul Johnson, director of the city's emergency operations centre, in a COVID-19 media briefing on Monday.

"We're still in a position where we want people to get out and enjoy themselves ... get out and enjoy it, but do it safely."

Johnson said there is an "investigative piece" involved with the incident at the Stone Church Road East location. The city will have an "ongoing discussion" about Cause and Effect as it moves forward.

He said the city can take additional actions such as suspending liquor licences but didn't say if this was going to happen to the bar.

CBC News reached out to Cause and Effect for comment, but did not hear back.

Previous mask-related tickets

Johnson said the city isn't trying to be a "thorn" in the business's side. Bylaw workers do surprise inspections, especially if tickets have been issued before, and many callsare complaint driven. The public pays attention, he said.

The tickets in the spring were issued for not followingmaskingregulations andfailing to record customers' contact information. Those in December were also mask-related.The business can fight the tickets.

Cause and Effect also faced criticism last summer after videos and images surfaced on social media showing the bar packed with people over a weekend.

At the time, a limit of 50 people were allowed indoors and 100 outside,but physical distancing was still required. The bar's general manager told CBC News then that the tables were spaced out and it was doing the best it could.

After the weekend, the bar saidone of its customers had COVID-19. The person was awaitingtest results, but still attended.

Other business opens up early

The city also ticketed Ethan James Salon and Spa onUpper James Street for opening up early this weekend. Personal care services aren't permitted to run until June 30, when the province moves into Step 2of its reopening plan.

Aside from those two businesses, Johnson saidothers in the city have been following the rules.

"As more things can start to open, my only encouragement is do what you're supposed to do, and we'll be fine getting through this, but we'll be there to enforce along the way."