40% Of Ontario Stores Didn't Follow COVID-19 Rules During This Weekend's Big Box Blitz
Some of Ontario's big box stores are facing hefty fines.
According to the Ministry of Labour, a whopping 40.7 percent of stores that were inspected the past weekend were found in violation of the province's lockdown rules.
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There is absolutely no excuse for owners, staff and customers alike not to be following health and safety rules.
Minister of Labour, Monte McNaughton
The shocking discovery was made in the aftermath of a provincial enforcement blitz.
The order saw 97 Provincial Offences Officers team up with Public Health Inspectors and By-Law Officers.
The team visited 428 businesses including Walmart, Costco, Shopper Drug Mart and other known retailers.
Only 59 percent of the retailers inspected in Toronto, Hamilton and Waterloo were found in compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act.
A total of 48 tickets were issued, including 17 in Toronto, 19 in Hamilton and 12 in the Waterloo Region.
Ford's government announced on Friday that over 100 fines had already been issued since the start of their inspections last month.
That number is likely to continue going up as more businesses are investigated.
*Cover photo used for illustrative purposes only.