Municipal police services in Bruce and Grey counties are taking similar approaches to several others in the province and say they will not be conducting random stops of individuals or vehicles for the sole purpose of enforcing the stay-at-home order.
On Friday, Ontario’s Solicitor General Sylvia Jones detailed temporary enhanced police enforcement powers that will continue for the duration of the stay-at-home order. It is in effect until at least May 20.
The new enforcement authority granted by the Ontario government allows police officers to stop individuals, to ask people their purpose for not being home and to provide their home address. Police can also pull over vehicles for the sole purpose of obtaining this information from people.
The enhanced enforcement power the province provided police drew swift condemnation from constitutional rights and freedom watchdog groups. The Canadian Constitution Foundation says: “Ontarians are essentially living under a 24 hour curfew and police will now be able to randomly stop people and vehicles and demand an explanation of why people are out living their lives.”
Many municipal and regional police services in major centres in the province – Toronto, Ottawa, London, Peterborough, Halton, Guelph, Waterloo and Niagara among them — began issuing public statements Friday night and Saturday morning saying they will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.
Several local police services in Grey Bruce followed suit.
The Owen Sound Police Service issued a statement on Saturday afternoon confirming their officers will not be engaging in random person or vehicle stops.
“The Owen Sound Police Service recognizes the challenges being faced in the province by increasing infection rates and hospitalization numbers related to Covid-19,” the statement reads. “While we are still awaiting clarification from the Province regarding the new legislation, we will continue to engage with citizens, explain, educate and enforce as required. The number of citizen generated complaints continues to increase.”
Saugeen Shores Police say it is not the intention of its service to conduct wholesale random spot checks, but note persons who appear in violation of the order may find themselves being approached by an officer.
“The Saugeen Shores Police Service will be conducting evidence based investigations concerning this stay-at-home order,” a release from the town police service says.
West Grey Police also confirmed its officers will not conduct “random vehicle or individual stops.”
“Enforcement will continue to be complaint driven and proactive, with the goal of gaining compliance,” a statement from West Grey Police reads. “Our actions will focus on those individuals who overtly put others in danger and citizens refusing to comply will be charged appropriately.”
Hanover Police Chief Chris Knoll also confirmed the town’s service will not be conducting random stops in order to check for compliance with the orders.
Knoll also noted on social media: “rest assured we will continue with the same measured, common sense approach to navigate the Orders & the situations we find ourselves in since the beginning. We will continue to focus on compliance through meaningful conversations, education & enforcement when deemed appropriate.”
As for communities in Grey Bruce serviced by Ontario Provincial Police, they have not issued similar public assurances that random spot checks won’t be conducted like the many municipal and regional forces in Ontario have.
*This story was updated from an earlier version to add confirmation from Police Chief Chris Knoll about Hanover Police Service
