Still standing within 2 metres of each other? That could cost you $5K under a new bylaw, Tory says

In Toronto’s bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, city officials announced a new bylaw Thursday that prohibits people from standing within two metres of each other in some parts of the city — and failing to comply could mean a fine of up to $5,000.

Mayor John Tory, joined by Toronto’s medical officer of health and fire chief, announced the change at their daily news conference on the city’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The bylaw is limited to interactions in city parks and squares. That’s where city officials say they are seeing the most problem with crowding.

“Lives are potentially at stake and we’ll turn up the heat,” Tory said.

“We will continue to do everything we can as a municipal government to lock down the city to save lives.”

Despite the new bylaw, questions remain around where people should and shouldn’t go in the city.

Can Torontonians go for a jog, walk the dog, or stroll through the park during the COVID-19 pandemic?

According to public health officials and elected leaders, the answer for now appears to be: it depends how many other people are doing the same thing.

The enhanced restrictions and recommendations released by Toronto Public Health on Wednesday advise people to limit their time outdoors to essential trips, but the guidelines still allow for walking pets or getting daily exercise so long as physical distancing of two metres is possible.

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa described those non-essential outings as “reasonable things to do while trying to stay home as much as possible.”

But Tory pointed to crowded parks, singling out Sunnyside Park on the lakefront, to suggest that some residents are not taking the rules seriously enough.

“It’s not saying you can’t go outside, it’s just saying that in places where people congregate, they can’t do that right now,” Tory said on Metro Morning.

Amenities are closed, but parks are not

While the city has closed a variety of outdoor amenities such as washrooms, off-leash dog areas, sports fields and picnic areas, other green spaces within parks and ravines are still open to the public.

When asked by a CBC Radio listener unsure about what to do when those spaces are crowded, Tory suggested residents look for quieter areas off the beaten path.

“They can take their car to a sidestreet,” he suggested. “I have not heard a lot of complaints about people saying side streets are crowded.”

Tory said he was particularly concerned by reports of drivers removing gates blocking parking lots at city parks in recent days.

He suggested the city would start using the large concrete barricades to keep drivers out. He said they will be the same barriers the city previously used to block access to unlicensed cannabis stores last summer.

“We have to respond accordingly,” Tory said.

Enforcement blitz on the way, Tory says

As mayor, Tory does not give specific directions to bylaw enforcement or police, but he is asking enforcement officers to begin a physical distancing blitz over the coming days.

It remains unclear what penalties or fines people may face for violating city directions to stay apart.

On Wednesday, Tory said the city has drafted bylaws to complement the enhanced rules, but he did not say if or when they would be enforced.

De Villa has said she prefers to educate residents and encourage them to practice physical distancing, though both she and Tory have increasingly reminded residents about the grim situations unfolding in other parts of the world.

“Turn on your TV, have a look at what’s going on in New York and decide together with us: we don’t want to go there,” Tory said.

CBC