(Facebook/Shorebird Inn)

By Angie Rolheiser

COVID Fine

Shorebird Inn owner may contest $14,000 COVID fine

Mar 31, 2021 | 1:28 PM

The owner of the Shorebird Inn on Tobin Lake near Nipawin says he’s considering contesting the hefty fine his business received from the province for violating COVID-19 protocols.

Bryan Baraniski—who is currently in hospital being treated for the virus—was fined $14,000 for failing to collect names, numbers, and addresses of customers entering his establishment.

“We had a sign in book at the entrance but some of the names were unreadable when public health officials came to look at it,” Baraniski said by text to northeastNOW.

He is on day 24 of his stay at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon after contracting COVID-19 and he is unsure when he will be getting out.

No formal legal outreach has yet been made by Baraniski on fighting the fine, but he’s considering it.

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“I think it is too much, and when I get out of here, I will get someone to advise me on it,” Baraniski said.

An outbreak was declared at Shorebird Inn and it was forced to close while employees were to self-isolate. In a Facebook post, it was stated that cleaning of the building was to take place before it would re-open.

Staff was already reduced due to being in the midst of the slow season so employment for workers hasn’t been directly affected by the fine or the outbreak, other than the short-term shutdown.

Operations typically ramp up at the popular Saskatchewan resort destination around the middle of May.

Baraniski did not always wear mask

Admittedly, Baraniski did start getting relaxed when it came to wearing a mask in his business over the last couple of months, but he said he did avoid going into the restaurant area as much as possible.

He said the habit, however, began to have its effects on those around him.

“I think some of the staff got relaxed with it at times, some of the customers also,” Baraniski said. “Probably seen I didn’t care…so thought the same.”

As for whether he regrets his decision to let his guard down? He said he feels everyone needs to move forward.

“I think people getting their lives and freedoms back, people might be more diligent in stopping the spread of it,” Baraniski said. “Some people will continue to wear masks, some won’t, maybe businesses can have the option of implementing a mask requirement. People will choose who to support.”

According to health officials, as of March 24, 15 cases have been linked to the outbreak and an additional 16 infections are under investigation to determine primary or secondary links.

A Prince Albert church group is also contesting a large fine it received for COVID protocol breaches. The far-right political online media outlet Rebel News has run a crowdfunding campaign to give legal assistance to those who, as they say, “have received a lockdown ticket.”

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser