Locals flock to Niagara Falls despite emergency orders

Sunday's warm weather drew hundreds of people to Niagara Falls, despite the province's emergency orders.

By the afternoon, the parking lots at Dufferin Islands and Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse were crammed with cars, as was the parking lot opposite the Table Rock Welcome Centre.

We've been home for what seems like ages and today is beautiful so we wanted to come out and see the falls and get some fresh air," said Mary from Ancaster, who did not want her name used.

Mary and her two children wore masks and gloves as they walked along the promenade near the Horseshoe Falls.

We're keeping our distance as best we can as there are a lot of people here without masks, which I think is a shame."

Niagara Parks has closed all public-facing outdoor facilities and all outdoor recreational equipment and amenities are also closed, including playgrounds, picnic areas, park shelters and public washrooms.

Public areas, green spaces and recreational trails remain open for walk-through access only. Parking lots are also open.

If parking lots were closed, some people would likely park in areas that were not safe or lawful," said Paul Forcier, chief of Niagara Parks Police.

He said it appears most people are compliant with the social distancing recommendations.

People have been observed to be waiting in their cars for other people to exit their own vehicles first in lots that are busy," he said.

Forcier said police are patrolling the parks as well as conducting foot patrols in the Niagara Glen to remind residents of the current provincial emergency orders, which includes maintaining a physical distance of at least two metres apart and not gathering in a group of more than five people.

Niagara Parks Police have not issued any tickets under the provincial orders, however, tickets have been issued under the Trespass to Property Act and regulations of the Niagara Parks Act.

We have issued a number of parking tickets to vehicles that were not parked in a designated area," Forcier said.

Discretion has been used in some cases with respect to towing them, unless they are in an unsafe area."

Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, invoked during the pandemic by Premier Doug Ford, penalties for disobeying an emergency order can be severe.

Failing to comply with an order made during the emergency can mean a minimum fine of $750.

Individuals who ignore the Ontario government's order can be fined as much as $100,000 and sentenced to a year in jail.

Between mid-March and the end of April, the City of Niagara Falls received about 300 complaints of people potentially violating COVID-19 orders.

The majority of complaints alleged businesses were not following proper protocols and children were gathering in parks and playgrounds.

As of April 26, the city had not laid any fines related to residents or businesses defying provincial orders.

Meanwhile, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake enacted a parking ban May 1, prohibiting parking within its popular heritage district area in an attempt to deter visitors. It also closed all public washrooms.