Blaze Media By CHRIS ENLOE
Authorities in Ontario, the most populated Canadian province, recently enacted pandemic-related restrictions that are so strict that not even law enforcement agencies are willing to enforce them.
Now, they’re already being rolled back.
What happened?
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced new extreme public health restrictions that tightened existing restrictions and enacted new, even stricter COVID rules.
The restrictions ban residents from gathering with people outside of their household and prohibit most outdoor activities, even limiting outdoor gatherings among people from the same household. Playgrounds were made off-limits for Ontario children. Restaurants and gyms remain closed, and schoolchildren will continue to receive their education via distance learning. Of course, social distancing and face masks are still required.
“We have implemented the strictest measures in all of North America,” Ford said at a press conference. “But we have never shied away from doing what’s necessary.”
?Ontario, Canada is now officially a police state? pic.twitter.com/cBP8kCTG16
— ???CanAditude??? (@CanAditude) April 16, 2021
The new health order also significantly empowers police to enforce the restrictions, essentially allowing police to stop people without cause or reason.
“We have made the deliberate decision to temporarily enhance police officer’s authority for the duration of the stay-at-home order. Moving forward, police will have the authority to require any individual who is not in a place of residence to, first, provide their purpose for not being at home and provide their home address. Police will also have the authority to stop a vehicle to inquire about an individual’s reason for leaving their residence,” Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones explained.
Jones also suggested that neighbors should “snitch” on one another if they don’t abide by the new restrictions.
How did police respond?
The majority of police agencies in Ontario said they would not enforce the restrictions by conducting random stops of individuals.
“New emergency orders announced yesterday to help limit the spread of COVID-19 are now in effect. The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars,” police in Toronto, the largest city in Ontario, tweeted.
New emergency orders announced yesterday to help limit the spread of Covid-19 are now in effect. The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars. 1/2
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 17, 2021
In fact, 39 out of the 45 police agencies throughout Ontario said they would not enforce the restrictions by conducting random stops, the Post Millennial reported.
How did officials respond to opposition?
After triggering widespread criticism and opposition, Ontario officials backtracked on some of the extreme restrictions and enforcement measures.
Ford announced Saturday the playground restrictions would be rolled back.
“Ontario’s enhanced restrictions were always intended to stop large gatherings where spread can happen. Our regulations will be amended to allow playgrounds but gatherings outside will still be enforced,” Ford said. “Play outside safely. Parents keep your distance & wear masks if you can’t.”
Ontarioâs enhanced restrictions were always intended to stop large gatherings where spread can happen.
Our regulations will be amended to allow playgrounds but gatherings outside will still be enforced. Play outside safely. Parents keep your distance & wear masks if you canât.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 17, 2021
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the solicitor general, Stephen Warner, said enforcement measures have been “refocused.”
“We have refocused O.Reg 8/21 Enforcement of COVID-19 Measures: If a police officer or other provincial offences officer has reason to suspect that you are participating in an organized public event or social gathering, they may require you to provide information to ensure you are complying with restrictions. Every individual who is required to provide a police officer or other provincial offences officer with information shall promptly comply,” Warner said.
Have to say I’m surprised any police are starting to resist even just a little bit like this.
Read it again…the GTA Police have been abusing their authority and citizens throughout the entire scam! The Peterborough Police too.
The cops who are actually saying anything are just saying they will not add to what they are already doing. There has never been more dirty, bullying, left-from-centre and non-Christian police in Ontario now than ever before! Only…ONLY…The O.P.P. can truly be trusted in any way, to uphold the application of Law & Order while simultaneously maintaining the principal rights of all Ontario residents / visitors.
Many of them are bad cops too but there are righteous-seeking leaders in The O.P.P. who know that many of us who remember why The O.P.P. could almost always be trusted, when other police agencies could not ( especially The R.C.M.P. ??ââïž? ). There will always be bad elements in a good police entity, however The O.P.P. is routing out those monsters-in-uniforms, and they’re response to Premier Ford’s new unlawful mandates is the benchmark for all other Ontario police agencies to measure by.
I wouldn’t trust your rights or your safety in any police agencies in this province now, except The O.P.P., and if you are an ass waving around a weapon, dealing drugs or otherwise soiling someone’s community with your garbage – they will have you!
When you see an O.P.P. vehicle or one of their members in-uniform…please honk politely and wave, or stop…tell them how grateful you are that they are the best police agency in Canada and you feel safe with them on the best.
May YAHUWEH bless all cops who are trying hard to be good cops, and the future of our province, and The O.P.P..
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Kudos to the Ontario Police who resist such stringent guidelines. I am praying that my local sheriff will use such common sense in Michigan, when our governor goes full Gestapo.
I just got out of Ontario just in time. I was there on business and for the life of me, I can’t understand how supposedly intelligent people just shrug their shoulders and comply, saying ” soon this will be over.” I remember when the government asked us all to wear masks for two weeks to “flatten the curve”. It won’t stop until we rise up.