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'It will be up to the individual officer to question those who are out,' says police official

Among the new measures announced today, police and bylaw officers will be given more authority to enforce public health rules

With Ontario's COVID-19 situation worse than at any other time during the pandemic, Premier Doug Ford announced heightened stay-at-home order restrictions this afternoon, including more powers for police.

During Friday's news conference, Ford said the current stay-at-home order, which took effect April 8, has now been extended by two weeks. That means the earliest end date is May 14.

Among the new measures, police and bylaw officers will be given more authority to enforce public health rules.

“We’re losing the battle between variants and vaccines," Ford said. "The pace of our vaccine supply has not kept up with the spread of the new COVID variants."

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said police will also have the authority to stop a vehicle and inquire about an individual's reason for leaving their residence.

“We have made the deliberate decision to temporarily enhance the police officer’s authority for the duration of the stay-at-home order,” she said. “Moving forward, police will have the authority to require any individual who is not in their place of residence to, first, provide their reason for not being at home and provide their home address.”

At the local level, Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday local police are awaiting more information from the Ministry of the Solicitor General on the changes.

“The authority now exists for us to do that and, as it was said all week about the current COVID numbers, we’re in a dire situation here,” Leon said Friday. “In the interest of public safety, it will be up to the individual officer to question those who are out.”

If someone is “headed to the grocery store at 3 p.m., then by all means, there is your reason," he added. 

“But a stay-at-home order is just that  stay home," Leon said. “Treat it like a winter storm in that if you really don’t have to go out, don’t.”

So what does this mean for the 'freedom rally' against lockdown restrictions planned for Saturday at Meridian Place?

“Our operational plans are fluid in nature and as the dynamics change, so do our plans,” Leon said. “The picture that has been painted of the current situation couldn’t be clearer and everyone is continuing to be encouraged to not attend and to stay home.”

Regarding the new police and bylaw powers, Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman told BarrieToday he has not yet discussed the plan with the local police officials. 

In an email, Lehman also said he doesn’t “know how feasible this is, but that the government would take this step shows just how serious the situation is.”

When asked what he would say to city residents, Lehman wanted to remind everyone of how successful Barrie was last year at slowing down the spread. 

“We crushed the curve before, last spring," he said. "People stayed home and stayed safe. We need to do it again, if we want our summer back.

“A new vaccine supply was announced today and this will end," the mayor added. "Please think about one another right now."

Other restrictions announced today by the province include limiting of outdoor gatherings to only members of the same household, or one additional person who lives on their own. 

All non-essential construction projects are being halted, along with outdoor leisure activities, such as golf, tennis and basketball. 

Big box stores can remain open, but at only 25 per cent capacity.

Places of worship will be permitted to allow a maximum of 10 people indoors.

Inter-border travel restrictions will be stepped up, and travel between the provinces will only be permitted for work, medical reasons and the transport of goods.

Earlier on Friday, the Ontario Science Table, which includes the province's scientific and health experts, said vaccinations are not reaching people at high-risk fast enough to prevent the dangerous impact on Ontario communities and hospitals.

A statement from Ford’s office Friday afternoon said: "If Ontario had the supply to ramp up to at least 300,000 vaccinations a day, it would have a significant impact on our ability to get a handle on this third wave.”