Hamilton Restaurant Faces Multiple Charges for Failure to Enforce Ontario’s COVID-19 Measures – Hamilton | The Canadian News

A restaurant owner in downtown Hamilton facing more charges for failing to enforce the province’s COVID-19 measures says he does so to defend his “fundamental rights as a human being and as a Canadian.”

Harrison Hennick from Nique told Global News’ John Oakley Show that he doesn’t necessarily see his action as a challenge, although he says he sees how it can be perceived that way.

“Originally, it started when I did what they really felt was right for me and my business,” Hennick said.

The Vine Street restaurant at the corner of James Street North suffered six more violations over the weekend.

According to the city law enforcement page, the restaurant is accused of failing to enforce face coverings, failing to verify vaccination status of patrons and staff, skipping contact tracing, and failing to screen employees and patrons for COVID.

The establishment challenged Ontario’s health measures and vaccine certificate program in late September, leading to a complaint filed with the Ministry of Labor (MOL).

Hennick argues that the offenses related to the fines he received are “broad and very general.”

“They show up in the middle of a dinner service when there are 100 people in the restaurant and they start asking me to produce things that would force me to literally get up off the floor, print documents of my staff’s personal and private information,” Hennick said. .

“I just told him I wasn’t willing to… you know, just go write me a ticket.

Capacity limits, physical distancing, and proof of vaccination are required for a variety of high-risk settings, including restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, sports facilities, and other venues.

Doctors’ notes for medical exemptions are required for those who cannot mask or get an approved inoculation.

In late September, amid the launch of the vaccine verification program, a city spokesperson told Global News about the “progressive application,” advising companies and sponsors on provincial requirements and the fines that would be at stake. through visits from ordinance officers.

“Statute officers are rolling out implementation, providing education to both businesses and customers on the new vaccine verification requirements,” said Senior Communications Officer Michelle Shantz.

“Officials are also informing companies and clients about the penalties for non-compliance. Fines range from $ 750 to $ 1000 under the Ontario Reopening Act. “

On Wednesday, Medical Director of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said those measures will be maintained as the province paused in further lifting capacity limits due to a cumulative increase in cases across the province.

“Ontario has continued to make progress as a result of its safe and cautious approach to reopening. We continue to have one of the lowest weekly case rates in the country and our intensive care and hospital capacity is currently stable, ”Moore said at a news conference.

“But to make sure we maintain our progress, it is necessary to make this deliberate pause. We must remain vigilant. “

Since the beginning of November, seven other companies have been sanctioned for violating existing orders from the provinces: another restaurant, two bars, a supermarket, a garden equipment company and a hairdresser.

The restaurant did not employ the vaccine verification program, while the other businesses were cited in connection with the statutes covering the face.

Hennick says that since he “took on” law enforcement he has been approached by a group that offered him legal advice and plans to fight his subpoenas.

“A large group offered not only free legal services, but also media consultations and crisis management and even some finances on top of that to handle anything else that might happen outside of these lines,” Hennick said.

Since Sunday, Hamilton’s health partners have put just over 3,200 doses of vaccines in arms, and Tuesday recorded the highest intake since Oct. 13 with 1,381 doses.

That number is well above the monthly average for daily doses given so far in November, which is 857 per day.

That average was down about 28.2 percent in October compared to September. Average daily doses administered in October was 1,068 compared to September’s average of 1,488 per day.

As of Tuesday, 82 percent of eligible Hamiltonians age 12 and older have been fully vaccinated, while 85.6 percent have received at least a single puncture. The city still lags behind the provincial average, which sees 85.1 percent fully vaccinated and 88.5 percent with at least one dose of vaccine.

Hamilton’s overall daily COVID-19 case rate has held steady week-over-week, with public health reporting an average of seven out of 15 days on Wednesday compared to the average of 16 reported a week ago.

The city’s active cases are also stable, down to just two cases out of 138 compared to 136 last Wednesday. More than 69 percent of all active cases are in people under the age of 50, while 39 percent represents how many under the age of 30 have the affliction.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Hamilton has suffered 25,393 reported COVID cases.

The percentage positivity rate remains at 1.70 percent, which is lower than the provincial average of 1.80 percent as of Tuesday.

There are eight reported outbreaks linked to a total of 43 cases as of November 9.

The largest is at St. Peter’s Hospital, which now has 16 cases in total: four among staff and 12 among patients.

City hospitals are reporting five fewer patients week over week with 27 COVID patients combined as of Wednesday. There are eight people in intensive care units (ICU).

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