Justice minister defends Manitoba's enforcement of COVID-19 measures
Manitoba’s justice minister is defending the government’s enforcement of public health orders.
“Where compliance isn’t happening, we will be there,” Cameron Friesen told reporters Monday after question period.
Responding to questions and concerns over what some see as a lack of enforcement of repeat offenders, Friesen argued the government’s measures are the most significant regime for COVID-19 of any province.
He pointed out more tickets were handed out in the most recent enforcement report – a total of 33 for various violations – compared with the week prior.
“Enforcement is significantly up compared to the week before,” Friesen said. “In tickets, in Quarantine Act violations, business tickets, failure to self-isolate.”
Under Manitoba’s current public health orders, proof of vaccination is required to dine in restaurants and to go to bars or pubs and attend some other events.
It’s also required to attend services at places of worship — people who aren’t vaccinated can only attend if capacity limits are put in place.
“The numbers that can attend are significantly reduced when you have unvaccinated people attending,” Friesen said. “Far greater numbers in attendance if you’re demonstrating that you are vaccinated.”
It’s an area critics argue the government needs to improve on to crack down on repeat offenders who flagrantly disobey and defy health orders.
“We know the government has to do a better job at ensuring folks are adhering to the public health measures,” said Nahanni Fontaine, the NDP’s justice critic.
Dougald Lamont, leader of the Manitoba Liberals, said most businesses are doing their part, pointing to the case of a Progressive Conservative MLA who left a South Osborne restaurant after failing to show proper proof of vaccination.
Lamont instead stressed the importance of being vaccinated.
“For almost anyone it is not okay to not be vaccinated,” he said.
Coleen Gibson, who lives in Transcona, said she dines in restaurants three or four times a week and masks up and prepares to provide proof of vaccination anytime she enters.
“I think they’re doing pretty well with it,” said Gibson. “They’re actually asking for people’s ID and they’re really making sure everybody does show their ID.”
More than 2,300 tickets totalling more than $3.3 million have been issued since April 2020 but data released a year later showed less than 10 per cent of the fines at that time had been collected.
Gibson said if she entered a business that wasn’t following the rules, her response would be simple.
“I would say, ‘sorry I cannot stay at your restaurant,” she said.
A spokesperson with Manitoba Justice said tips on alleged violations are regularly investigated and credible reports are followed up on.
The department said there are more than 3,000 enforcement officials throughout the province who educate businesses and ensure compliance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.