Halifax house party ends in $1,000 fine

An $1,000 fine was issued to a homeowner after hosting sixty people at a house party in Halifax, NS, on Friday, CBC News reports. The fine was issued under the Health Protection Act.

The bust was praised by Halifax City Councillor Waye Mason, who says that the neighbour who called the police "did the right thing" but that issuing a single ticket to the host "is insufficient."

"I've spoke to both provincial folks and health folks asking that steps be taken to increase fines - should be every participant gets ticketed," Mason tweeted.

The party took place the same day that Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announced that indoor social gatherings in Halifax would be limited to five people only. Such gatherings were previously limited to ten people prior to McNeil's announcement.

McNeil said he was specifically worried about young people between the ages of 18 to 35, who he claims are acting "as if COVID doesn't exist."

Nova Scotia has not faced the severe consequences of the coronavirus pandemic which other provinces have faced. After facing a steep rise in cases early in the pandemic, case counts had been largely flat between May and October. Cases have once again begun rising since the beginning of November.