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
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
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.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
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.