Additional police deployed throughout Gatineau as part of the province's operation OSCAR

Gatineau, September 18, 2020. – As part of the Province of Quebec's operation OSCAR (Opération systématisée comportements à risque), the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) will be deploying additional police officers starting this evening to visit licenced establishments over the September 18 to 20, 2020 weekend.

Quick facts

●	Further to the announcement by Quebec's Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Security Geneviève Guilbault, the SPVG will deploy additional officers starting early in the evening on Friday, September 18.

●	Several additional officers will be assigned specifically to visit licenced establishments throughout Gatineau until Sunday, September 20.

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The officers will be visiting licenced establishment to enforce the Act respecting offences relating to alcoholic beverages and the Public Health Act. The officers will focus particularly on: – compliance with the authorized maximum capacity under the Public Health Act; – the use of mandatory face coverings; and – prohibited activities, such as karaoke.

●	SPVG officers will report any breaches observed to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ). If hot spots are identified, the SPVG may inform the Direction de la santé publique.

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Fines may range from $400 to $6,000 in the event of violations, to both the owners of the licenced establishments and the customers of those establishments. In particular, individuals violating the public health instructions are liable to: – a $1,546 fine, including administrative costs, if they fail to comply with the physical distancing instructions; and – a $589 fine, including administrative costs, if they refuse to wear a mask or face covering in enclosed public areas.

●	This special operation will not have any impact on the response by SPVG officers to regular calls.

●	The SPVG will release a report on the operation early next week.

Associated links

Act respecting offences relating to alcoholic beverages

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Québec

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