Hamilton officials release name of the Stoney Creek restaurant they allege flouted COVID rules
The city has named a restaurant charged with flouting a number of COVID-19 rules earlier this month: Krown Kafe in Stoney Creek.
Paul Johnson, director of the city's Emergency Operations Centre released the name during a media update Monday, a week to the day he slammed the restaurant - then unnamed - for allegedly allowing patrons to sing, dance and ignore COVID rules including physical distancing and mask-wearing. The city refused to name the business, saying it would only do so if there was a higher-risk situation."
In the wake of public pressure, city council voted last Wednesday to make names of businesses charged with COVID violations public on a go-forward basis. That information went live on the city's website Monday. The Stoney Creek restaurant, however, was not on the list since it was fined before the policy changed.
Still, Johnson said Monday the decision was made to release the name since its alleged rule-breaking kicked off the city's policy changes.
I just felt it was really important," Johnson said.
He added that suggestions the city doesn't value transparency are incorrect. The city was just continuing with an unofficial policy to not name businesses charged - a practice in place prior to the pandemic. He understands it is important for people to know about rule-breaking businesses, he said.
Johnson added the businesses charged and fined were just that - charged and fined.
It does not mean that the individual is guilty of those offences," he said. As always, there's a due process."
The city later confirmed fines can be paid or challenged. If challenged, it goes before courts where a justice of the peace decides on the matter.
The Spectator was unable to reach the Krown Kafe on Queenston Road for comment.
The city laid four charges against the restaurant under the province's Reopening Ontario Act, including: allowing members of public to play live music/sing with no barrier, no face coverings being worn, no physical distancing being practised and failing to keep proper contact tracing records.
Meanwhile, as Hamilton moved into the red, control" zone Monday, which comes with new rules and restrictions for businesses, city councillors spoke up at a board of health meeting about how city operators are extremely worried about compliance" amid the new rules. Especially given that the city will now name scofflaws publicly, Coun. Arlene Vanderbeek said.
For instance, the Dundas councillor asked, could a grandmother out to dinner with grandchildren land a bylaw fine for being too close to a family member of another household?
Bylaw officers won't ferret out those kinds of situations to hand out tickets, Hamilton's medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, assured her.
According to the city's website, four businesses have been fined since Nov. 14. They include Allure Lounge and the Stop Bar and Grill (both on Barton Street East), Shisha Kaif Cafe and Hookah Bar on Upper James Street, and Fionn MacCool's on Stone Church Road East, which is facing two charges.
All charges are listed as fail to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order" under the Reopening Ontario Act, which could mean any number of violations of an emergency order. The website does not provide more specific information about the exact charges. The Spectator has requested that information.
-With files from Teviah Moro.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com