Fines could reach $57K with new penalties for breaking N.S. gathering rules
CBC
People and organizations that host gatherings in Nova Scotia that ignore public health orders will now face steep monetary penalties.
The province announced Thursday morning that a new category of offence will see organizers held directly responsible for contravening the Health Protection Act.
The announcement comes after a religious gathering in late October resulted in transmission of COVID-19 that spread to various areas of the province and caused the deaths of three people. Organizers did not ask for proof of vaccination from those who attended, in violation of public health rules.
The pastor of the church that organized the multi-day gathering was fined $2,422 in connection with the gathering.
Under the new fine structure, first offences for individuals who organize or attend an illegal gathering will come with a $2,422 fine, and increase to $11,622 for subsequent offences.
Organizations will be fined $11,622 for the first offence and $57,622 for subsequent violations. Individuals can also face jail time.
The new fines are effective immediately.
"I don't want any more loved ones being lost due to this type of reckless behaviour and the fines that were in place were not enough to discourage it," said Premier Tim Houston in a news release. "My hope is that by substantially increasing fines and increasing enforcement we can save lives."
The province said more than 1,375 tickets have been issued under the Health Protection and Emergency Management acts since the state of emergency began in March 2020.
On Wednesday, Houston blasted the organizers of the late-October gathering that led to the outbreaks. Robert Smith, the pastor of the Gospel Light Baptist Church, which hosted the event, has said what happened was "unfortunate," but was part of God's plan.
The province also announced Wednesday it had fined Smith $2,422 for the gathering.
Dalhousie University law professor Wayne MacKay said in addition to the fine levied against the pastor of the Gospel Light Baptist Church, it is possible there are grounds for criminal charges, including criminal negligence.
"Now that's extremely hard to prove, but under criminal negligence, if you have a duty to do something and you either don't do it or do it inadequately or do it with … reckless disregard for the safety of others, then that can be considered criminal negligence," he said.
Conviction for that offence can come with prison time that ranges from three years to life.
Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Paul Hodgson has a couple of reasons to celebrate Family Day — and Black History Month, for that matter.
A year ago, then Gatineau mayor France Bélisle abruptly resigned, citing a hostile political climate. This week she has spoken out, offering more details of her complaints about municipal politics in Quebec.
One man is dead and three others are in police custody after a deadly assault on a Manitoba First Nation.
When Piper sends her son to school every morning, she calls out a similar refrain: "I love you, try your best, I'll be here to pick you up when school is done," hoping he will be safe and supported.
A downtown Edmonton business advocacy group is worried about how a series of planned bridge closures due to construction could impact the city.
Vancouver resident Tara Garofano says she made a dinner reservation on Valentine's Day — not for romance, but to take advantage of the final hours of the federal government's temporary Goods and Services Tax (GST) holiday.
Students at McMaster University in Hamilton are questioning the institution's commitment to the prevention of sexual violence after staffing changes at the office responsible for that work on campus.
Windsor-Essex could see its biggest snowfalls of the year in what Canada's weather agency is calling a "highly impactful" storm.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES) is looking into reports of two young cougars that were spotted alone near Canmore this week.
All crew members of the MSC Baltic III have been rescued after their vessel ran aground close to the Lark Harbour shoreline off Newfoundland and Labrador's west coast.
Here's a look at some of the closures, and special events, happening in Thunder Bay on the Family Day weekend:
If you live in or around Toronto, you may want to keep that shovel nearby.
As the Ontario provincial election campaign heats up, voters in Waterloo region and surrounding areas are making their priorities clear.