Staff with a private security company will be permitted to fine Manitobans not following COVID-19 orders. 

Approximately 90 officers from G4S Canada, a private security company, will be joining Manitoba in COVID-19 enforcement. The province is not releasing where the officers will be. Premier Brian Pallister says it would be counterproductive to do release where the officers will be.

G4S staff will be trained with Commissionaires Manitoba.

"They will be able to offer detouring by way of ticketing or other measures," Pallister says.

The security staff will be both responding to the COVID-19 tip line and patrolling. 

"This is a group that can bolster our enforcement because they bring that experience with them."

G4S says they are the world’s leading global, integrated security company specializing in security.

The province does not have a designated end date for the contract with the private security company.

G4s will join the hundreds of law enforcement officers, public health and Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority inspectors, as well as other positions in enforcement.

Pallister says COVID-19 enforcement has been difficult on those doing the task.

"This weekend was rough. We know there was a get-together where people behaved badly, let's put it that way. Coughing on officers, verbal slurs, racist slurs"

The Premier is emphasizing that this gathering did not represent the City of Steinbach.

Since November 2, RCMP Manitoba has received 253 calls of COVID-19 noncompliance and issued eight fines.

Pallister is asking Manitobans, including sports groups, to not try to skirt around the rules by leaving the province to have gatherings.

"This is not a sport, this is life and death."

Pallister is asking Manitobans to continue to provide tips to their call line. He says fines in the past week have tripled. The Premier says that there have also been instances of false reports.

He is thanking Manitobans who have been following the COVID-19 restrictions. 

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