On July 7, 2020, a temporary by-law made it mandatory to wear non-medical masks in indoor public spaces throughout Toronto. Durham Region and several GTA municipalities are joining this mandatory regulation. For business owners and operators, this means that – with some exceptions – all customers or visitors entering an indoor premise are required to wear a mask or face covering while inside. The violation of the by-law has a set fine of $1,000 for each offence.
Currently, there is not a lot of guidance available for business owners on how to enforce this rule. The City of Toronto specifically requires the following: business owners and operators must create a mask policy for their business premises or establishment and train their staff. Business owners are thus responsible for creating appropriate policies, enforcing them and deciding how to deal with customers who refuse to comply.
This difficult position of how to enforce the by-law can be resolved by having well-drafted policies. Buzaker Law Firm is ready to assist business owners and operators with drafting of appropriate policies compliant with the latest pandemic regulations. For more information, you can contact us at 905-370-0484 or by email at info@vblegal.ca.
