Kawartha Lakes mayor provides update on COVID-19 enforcement

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: On Wednesday, May 20th, City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham updated reporters on recent COVID-19 related enforcement actions, taken by police forces and municipal bylaw officers over the Victoria Day long weekend.

“I checked in with the [Ontario Provincial Police], they had no major issues. They were patrolling on the lakes. They had their boat in and out of some of the different lakes on the weekend. They were patrolling the boat launches. No major issues, a couple of very minor warnings here and there, but no issues whatsoever regarding distancing or gatherings across the city. [and] Kawartha Lakes police [had the] same thing,” Mayor Letham said. “Bylaw were out patrolling, on the weekend, the [Victoria] rail trail and the boat launches. The rail trail was very busy over the weekend. There [were] a lot of people out, enjoying getting outside and motoring around. Although it was busy, again, there [were] no major issues. A few people didn’t have [permits] to be on the trail, but other than that everybody seemed to be very respectful.” Kawartha Lakes had been going through a phased reopening process, recently opening landfills, boat launches and the Victoria Rail Trail ahead of the long weekend. As a precaution, the City will continue to have these sites patrolled by bylaw officers for the time being. “They [the bylaw officers] continually do it all the time, but we do recognize as the weather gets better, and people have been cooped up, there tends to be a bit more of a rush and an emphasis to get back outside, so they will be targeting these areas continuing forward for the near future,” Mayor Letham told The Standard.