Mississauga and Brampton businesses undergo inspection as new COVID-19 restrictions go into effect

Businesses in Mississauga, Brampton, and the rest of the province are being inspected today to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour reported that health and safety inspectors will be conducting visits across the province today (Dec. 18) to make sure businesses are following the public safety requirements outlined in the Reopening Ontario Act.

They’ll focus their efforts on big box stores, bars, salons and other high-risk settings, ensuring businesses are enforcing distancing requirements, checking vaccine certificates and following other health rules.

The ministry says officers are to take an “education-first approach” to enforcement, but won’t hesitate to fine repeat offenders and those willfully flouting the rules.

The inspections nearly coincide with the new COVID-19 restrictions going into effect on Sunday, Dec. 19 in response to a rise in cases of the Omicron variant.

Among the new restrictions, capacity limits for all indoor public settings are being reduced to 50 per cent, except for religious settings. Social gatherings are capped at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

Bars and restaurants will have their hours of operation reduced to 11:00 p.m., except for take-out and delivery. Alcohol service will be restricted after 10:00 p.m.

The measures, which also include prohibiting food and drink consumption at large venues such as cinemas and sporting arenas, were announced just two days after the province announced a souped-up COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign.

“The experts have been very clear: nothing will stop the spread of Omicron. It’s just too transmissible. What we can do, and what we’re doing, is slowing it as much as possible to allow more time for shots to get into arms,” Ford said.

With files from The Canadian Press