Business inspection blitz shows 55% compliance rate with COVID protocols in Waterloo region

Provincial inspectors found a 55 per cent compliance rate during a weekend inspection blitz of big box stores, other retailers and convenience storesin Waterloo region.

Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton says provincial inspectors, along with regional bylaw, visited 119 businesses on Saturday and Sunday. At least 12 tickets were issued to businesses in the region, but the ministry expects there may be more tickets handed out in the coming days.

The three big problems they found, McNaughton says, is a lack of screening staff and customers, which includes at a minimum hanging up a sign at the entrance asking people if they're experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, ensuring people are wearing face coverings and some businesses didn'thave safety plans posted.

"I'm disappointed when I see a compliance rate of only 55 per cent," he said in an interview Monday. "There are no excuses anymore. Businesses know exactly what they should be doing."

As to why businesses aren't following the provincial rules, McNaughton says it's a mix of businesses just not understanding what they need to do and businesses that are deliberately ignoring the rules.

The provincial inspectors were also in Toronto and Hamilton over the weekend. It was the second blitz in those cities, and McNaughton says the good news is that the inspectors say "substantial improvement,"particularly in Toronto, which had a compliance rate of 71 per cent.

"I'm hoping when we go back to Waterloo to inspect these big box stores they're going to be doing even better," he said.