Some travellers at Toronto airport fined for violating Ontario rules

Several international travellers arriving at Toronto's Pearson airport have refused to comply with Ontario's rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, local police said Wednesday.

Peel Region police said that while most cases were resolved afterconversations with officers, some people refused to follow the rulesand were fined $880 underOntario regulations.

There have been 49 fines handed out since the start of February, a police spokesperson told CBC News. Those fines relate to things like skipping COVID-19 tests or other infractions. The Canadian Press had previously reported, erroneously, that those tickets were for violations of new hotel quarantine rules.

Police said they will not detain anyone for breaking the hotelquarantine rule, which came into effect this week,unless there are aggravating circumstances involved,such as a criminal offence.

They said the Public Health Agency of Canada would be responsible for issuing any potential fines under the Quarantine Act.

The federal government this week implemented new rules that require anyone arriving in Canada to fly throughToronto, Calgary, Vancouver or Montrealand stayinisolation at one of several quarantine hotelsfor up to three nights. Travellers may only leave after a negative COVID-19 testbut are expected to self-isolate for a total of 14 days.

Federal public health agency 'aware of the situation'

The Public Health Agency of Canada said Wednesday that it was"aware of the situation" and looking into allegations of people skipping hotel quarantine.

"Travellers are legally obligated to follow the instructions ofa screening officer or quarantine officer through the 14-day period,whether in regards to testing, transit to locations, their mandatory hotel stopover or during quarantine at home or other suitablelocation," it said.

"If they do not follow the instructions, there are penalties, including a maximum fine of up to $750,000 or imprisonment forsixmonths."

Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region's medical officer of health, said Wednesday that the quarantine measures are in place to protect the public.

"It's unfortunate ... that this might be occurring," said Loh. "Please remember that it's a disease that spreads from personto person, and it takes all of us to do our part."

RCMP in Vancouver has no reports of people not complying

Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, Ont., just north of Pearson airport, said that people who choose to ignore the regulations are being selfish.

"By not being mindful that you can bring dangerous variants into the country, you're being selfish to your neighbours, to yourcity," said Brown. "I hope that people do abide by the new stricter guidelines."

Meanwhile, RCMP in Vancouver said they had no reports ofpeople failing to complywith the new rules.

Federal officials have said that the costs associated withkeeping travellers inisolation at one of the government-approvedhotels could be up to $2,000 for a three-night stay. Travellers are expected to cover those costs, which the government has said include the testing, transportation, food, hotel security and cleaning.

Series of measures came into effect Monday

The hotel stays areamong a series of measures that came into effect on Monday to limitthe spread of COVID-19 and more contagious variants of the virus.

Most in-coming air travellers will need to get tested for the virus upon arrival and again toward the end of their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Travellers arriving at land borders will be given self-swab kits,and testing will be provided on site at five high-volume border crossings.

The new rules are in addition to previous orders that require anegative test result within 72 hours of arrival. Travellers will need to complete a second test on Day 10 of their self-isolation period.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the tighter bordercontrols are meant to keep everyone safe.