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Edmonton peace officers now have the authority to distribute fines of $ 1,000 to people who violate Alberta’s COVID-19 public health orders, city officials confirmed on Friday.
The city was waiting for the green light after Premier Jason Kenney announced Tuesday that the province would extend authority to municipal officials.
Interim City Administrator Adam Laughlin told the City Council Emergency Advisory Committee just as he received a confirmation email from the Office of Justice and the Attorney General.
“We will be more aggressive in our application,” Laughlin said. “We are at the point where we need to make sure we do everything to reduce it.”
The move comes as COVID-19 cases in the Edmonton area have risen to more than 6,000, nearly half of the total cases in Alberta and the province imposes new restrictions.
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu announced Friday that some 700 peace officers in the province would be given the authority to enforce the province’s health orders.
Previously, only the Alberta police and public health inspectors had the authority to fine businesses and people found infringing on provincial health orders in the city.
About 150 peacekeepers will receive training in the next week to be equipped with order execution and coordination with police and health inspectors.
The authority will not be extended to municipal state officials, who have the power to give fines to people who violate the city’s face-covering regulation which has been in effect since August 1.
To date, the city has tried to educate and raise awareness to encourage the public to follow health measures.
Laughlin said people are likely to notice stronger and faster actions.
“People are going to get angry, but frankly that’s what we have to do right now,” Laughlin said at a post-meeting press conference. “People have to start honoring these measures that are in place.”
Public health orders include maintaining a distance of two meters from others, no indoor social gatherings and 25% capacity in retail stores and entertainment venues.
The city will explore further restrictions under the Municipal Government Act if the cases are not resolved by December 15, Laughlin added.
Laughlin also asks people to limit non-essential travel to the city and shop locally
Mayor Don Iveson noted that Edmonton’s infection rate is 500 per 100,000 people.
“In a given group of 200 people passing in and out of any place, one of them will have the virus at this point.”
Iveson said the risk increases as he is listening to health experts and college professors calling for stronger measures, “which I personally would support.”
22 closed arenas
The city will close 22 arenas from 1 to 18 December.
Laughlin noted a lack of reservations and provincial restrictions banning group fitness classes until December 13.
The Downtown Community Arena will remain open with the provincial exemption granted to the IIHF Junior World Championships.
Three city-run senior centers and the St. Francis Xavier Sports Center will also be closed.
All indoor events and group activities at city facilities will be canceled.
Beginning December 1 at recreational facilities and the Edmonton Valley Zoo, anyone who does not wear a mask will be refused entry, regardless of the individual’s exempt status.
Customers can still remove their masks during training.
The perennial favorite Candy Cane Lane will only be a drive-thru this year.
Corporate concerns
Some restaurants have voluntarily closed indoor meals and switched to take-out and sidewalk food due to risks to staff and patrons, Iveson said.
Because it’s their choice to close and not an order in Alberta, they’re not eligible for a federal rent subsidy top-up, Iveson said.
“This represents an inequality and concern for those companies compared to other parts of the country – where with much lower infection rates than we’ve seen here, closure orders have come into effect.”
Iveson said the city will see if there is anything it can do to support entrepreneurs who have chosen to close.
Coun. Aaron Paquette said he is concerned that companies are unable to sustain themselves due to the decline in consumer confidence in safety.
“I am deeply concerned,” Paquette said. “I’m actually terribly worried that our economy is being pushed to the ground and that it will take much longer to recover from inaction.”
Paquette said Edmonton isn’t generating enough revenue and the council needs help from the federal government.
“I’m just wondering, is there a way we can move forward, that we can actually help these companies shut down in order to access federal funds?” Paquette asked.
Laughlin said the city is reviewing the municipal government law to consider options to “shut down some industries, whichever is appropriate.”
They haven’t had enough time to assess the risks associated with this, Laughlin added.
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