Haldimand County has closed a number of additional facilities in accordance with the Province of Ontario’s recent order to close ALL outdoor recreational amenities, including trails, parks, sports fields, pavilions, skate parks, beaches, boat launches, piers, docks, etc. In an effort to protect community health & safety, the County is increasing patrols and re-deploying municipal enforcement services and building inspection staff to enforce these provincial public health orders.

Residents may report individuals violating public health orders  to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s COVID-19 Enforcement Hotline at 519-428-8019.

Residents can use the hotline to report a variety of issues, including:

• Non-essential businesses remaining open
• An essential business that isn’t complying with necessary restrictions
• Gatherings of five or more people
• The use of playgrounds, skate parks, parks, piers and beaches
• Any other violations of public health orders issued by the Medical Officer of Health or the Province of Ontario

All reports received at this number will be forwarded to Haldimand County’s municipal enforcement services staff or the OPP and investigated. The County has redeployed some of its building inspectors to support municipal law enforcement officers in patrols, enforcement of park / public space closures and public gathering dispersals.

“Both Council and staff continue to receive reports of people violating provincial orders and disregarding instructions from public health authorities,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt. “We’ve had to barricade the Port Maitland Pier/Esplanade Park because people just aren’t listening. There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior and we will be acting within the fullest extent of our authority to penalize violators,” Hewitt added.

The County will be closely monitoring the local compliance/enforcement situation and will take further action if necessary. The Port Maitland Pier, park, esplanade and beach have been fully closed due to crowding, and enforcement officers will be patrolling the area. “Stay home, stay safe and take this seriously,” Hewitt concluded.

For local information about the COVID-19 pandemic – including facility closures, program cancellations, meeting postponement & visitation restriction information – visit HaldimandCounty.ca/covid-19/.

For the most up-to-date public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.