Sarnia's mayor suggests the province's sudden enforcement blitz on big box stores is political damage control.
Mike Bradley made the comment after inspectors visited 110 retailers in the GTA and Hamilton over the weekend and found 31 COVID-19 prevention violations -- for a compliance rate of just over 70 per cent.
Ontario Labour Minister, Lambton-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, said the blitz of big-box stores will expand across the province in the coming days.
Mayor Bradley told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Monday morning that the province is acting in response to public criticism.
"Let's put it this way, I have a bit of a different view than Monte," said Bradley. "If I understand what they're trying to do, they're trying to do damage control on the fact that the public and others like councils (including Sarnia) were not happy with the unfairness and inequity between the big box stores being open and able to sell non-essential goods while the small business person couldn't do it without a lot of challenges."
Bradley said the province has to do more.
"In my view, what the ministry of labour should be doing is if they charge a store, first of all identify the store because they're not doing that, and secondly say 'you had your shot and were given latitude with these rules and now you're closed'. End of story."
Fines range from a minimum $750, up to $10,000 for individuals, and $10-million for corporations.
-With files from Sue Storr