1 business charged, 2 warned for remaining open, region says

One business has been charged for allegedly remainingopen after it was declared non-essential by the province, while two more were given warnings, Region of Waterloo chief administrative officer Mike Murray says.

The business was charged late last week, Murray said Monday, while the two formal warnings were issued over the weekend.

Murray did not provide details on what kinds of businesses were open or the dollar amount of the fine for the company that had been charged.

Ontario ordered all non-essential businesses to close on March 24 in an effort to keep people at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the list of what must close was expanded and updated to include some construction sites, pet storesand cannabis stores. Those businesses were ordered to close by 11:59 p.m. Saturday, which caused long lines at some stores in the region.

'A number of complaints over the weekend'

If people see a non-essential business that is open, they can call the region, Murray said.

"We have people available 24 hours a day, sevendays a week to take those complaints, take those concerns and pass them on to the appropriate organizations for follow-up," Murray said.

The complaints could go to a few different groups, Murray said, including police, bylaw, health inspectors or regional security.

The regionis doing both "active monitoring" to ensure businesses are closed and it is responding to complaints, Murray said.

"We responded to a number of complaints over the weekend," Murray said.

1 person charged at basketball court

Over the weekend, oneperson was chargedafter bylaw officers in Kitchener asked the person to leave a basketball court. The charge carries a $750 fine.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said there was a group of people playing basketball. All but one agreed to leave when asked but the one person argued they had a right to be there.

All playgrounds, sports fields and skate parks are closed in the region. Trails are open for walk-through access and people are asked to not stop at benches or to socialize.

Officials in Waterloo and Cambridge have said no individuals have been fined under the province's emergency order.

Numbers to call

Contact the region for non-essential businesses that remain open:519-575-4400.

If you have questions about whether or not a business is essential, call the provincial hotline: 1-888-444-3659.

To report concerns about people gathering in groups or using sports fields or playground, call the local municipalities. The phone numbers are:

• Region of Waterloo: 519-575-4400.
• Cambridge: 519-623-1340 ext. 7907.
• Kitchener: 519-741-2345.
• Waterloo: 519-570-9777.

If you're unsure who to call, call the region's phone number and the information will be forwarded, Murray said.