Checkpoints to return to Ottawa-Gatineau border Monday

Travel checkpoints are set to return Monday between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., part of a slate of new COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Ontario government on Friday.

Premier Doug Ford announced the checkpoints will soon appear at Ontario's borders with Quebec and Manitobaas part of the province's ongoing attempttomanage the severity of the pandemic's third wave.

Exceptions will be in place for people going to work, seeking medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights.

"Should an individual not have a valid reason to enter Ontario, they will be turned back," said Health Minister Christine Elliott duringFriday's news conference.

"These are tough but necessary measures to help us overcome this health crisis."

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The restriction hearkens back to last spring when the Quebec government implemented checkpoints on bridge and ferry crossings across the Ottawa River,during the pandemic's first wave.

Genevive Guilbault, Quebec's deputy premier, said Friday evening that her province's borders would be closed to visitorsfrom OntariostartingMonday as well.

Rules still 'unfolding'

During a city news conference Friday, both Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Chief Peter Sloly said municipal officials werestill waiting for details on the checkpoint plan.

Sloly said his understanding was that the checkpoints would be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week,for several weeks.

He said OPS was having enforcement discussions with the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and their counterparts in Quebec.

"It is a still unfolding set of regulations and expectations, and so anything further than that would be speculation at this time," Sloly said.

Ottawa mayor hoping for discretion in checkpoint enforcement

3 years ago

Duration 2:05

Mayor Jim Watson says he hopes police will use discretion in compassionate cases for travel between Ottawa and Gatineau after the province announced new interprovincial checkpoints. Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly says officers may be looking for verification from travellers.

Watsoncharacterized the premier's comments as a clear signal to Ontario residents to stay on this side of the Ottawa River and not head to their cottages or Gatineau Park.

Even so, Watson said he hoped officers would be allowedto exercise somediscretion if people had other "legitimate" reasons for travel for instance, the death of a loved one.

"What we're saying is, look, you don't have to go over to go to Gatineau Park or to get cheap beer at thedepanneur," Watson said. "But if there's a sensible reason ... I hope that the police are given that discretion."

The borderannouncement comes as Ottawa Public Health reported 345 newcases and one death Friday, with more than 100 COVID-19 patients in hospital for the first time since the pandemic was declared in early 2020.

Another 181 cases are resolved, with the confirmed active case total now above 3,100.