‘Unconscionable’: Ontario vows stiff fines for reselling of free COVID test kits
Posted December 21, 2021 3:16 pm.
The Ontario government has vowed “track down and fine” anyone who resells rapid COVID-19 tests that are being distributed for free across the province.
In a statement on Tuesday Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Ross Romano, called the practice “deplorable.”
“We are proactively working to identify, track down, and fine any businesses and individuals who may be in breach of our government’s emergency order which prohibits charging unfair prices for necessary goods,” Romano wrote.
“While we recognize that the vast majority of businesses and individuals do not participate in this unconscionable behaviour, our government has implemented enhanced measures to address this issue and hold those who engage in it accountable.”
Romano noted that individuals caught trying to resell the test kits could face a ticket of $750. If summoned to court and convicted the penalty could balloon to $100,000 and a year in jail.
The fines are even stiffer for businesses that try to make a fast buck.
“If convicted, a company director or officer could face a fine of up to $500,000 and up to a year in jail, and a corporation could face a fine of up to $10 million. To date, 900 of the most egregious complaints have been referred to police forces across the province,” Romano said.
Last week, the province announced its holiday plan to distribute two million free rapid tests in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The plan involves distributing the kits at LCBO stores, and pop-up sites in settings like libraries, malls, and transit stations.
Many complained about waiting in lines for hours, only to be turned away as the test kits were quickly depleted.
