Thread by @jpags

I’m on my way to Adamson BBQ in Etobicoke where owner Adam Skelly — making false claims about the severity of this pandemic — has vowed to open for inside dining at 11AM. The head of by-law enforcement for the city tells me they are aware of the Instagram post and plan to attend

This will be a test for city by-law with lockdown measures in place as of Monday. Those rules were imposed by the province and supported by local officials. It’s up to MLS, TPH and TPS to enforce those rules.

The comments on that post are a mix of support/vows to line up and critics recommending the very delicious Cherry St. and Beach Hill alternatives/asking to cancel pre-orders

To be clear, Adamson BBQ — like all other restaurants in the city — is allowed to be open for takeout and delivery. They can’t have indoor or patio dining. That’s what Skelly is protesting

Skelly is here with some other folks I don’t recognize in the parking lot taking selfie’s and shaking bare hands with people. No obvious line yet. Blasting Rage Against the Machine (h/t @carlososorio)

Skelly now screaming at us to get off his property and not stand in a roadway after patrons talked to us about their feelings about tests they think are a lie and the right to eat inside and risk getting sick if they want to

Prospective patrons would not give us their full names so not going to quote them directly here

This guy is now telling us we “lie through our teeth on a regular basis” and yelling about other things. Few of the patrons waiting in parking lot are wearing masks

https://twitter.com/jpags/status/1331262791689367554

This is the scene in the parking lot right now

I count about two dozen people who appear to be here to eat. Picnic tables set up

No sign of enforcement yet as we hit 11AM. There are now two toddlers here. Skelly is letting people in without masks. He himself is not wearing a mask.

“Do you have to wear a mask?” one woman asks as she walks towards the forming line. Some cars have honked as they drive by

There are now people eating inside, in direct violation of provincial orders

Cops and enforcement have arrived

Officers have now entered the restaurant

We’ve been asked to stay off the property so I can’t see what enforcement is up to but @rlautens tells me one possible patron has a Trump hat on

Can see Skelly speaking with enforcement now but can’t hear what they’re saying. Skelly appears agitated. Patrons recording interaction on their phones

(For obvious reasons I’m not going inside with a bunch of unmasked people who don’t believe in a pandemic but I believe Joe Warmington is in there)

A family with small children continues to enjoy their food at a windowside table as a country tune plays

This person driving an official City of Toronto truck just honked and fist bumped the pro-Adamson folks here

Again, this restaurant is illegally allowing indoor dining and breaking city orders around mask wearing

Many more police have arrived on scene. By-law and public health leaving restaurant now

“BBQ IS ESSENTIAL”

Skelly, who just walked out from the restaurant, says he wasn’t fined today. Won’t talk to us more

Police inspector Crone tells us the investigation is ongoing and health and bylaw officialsno longer on scene. Says given number of people and circumstances not going to clear this crowd now. Doors are not being closed. Discouraged similar “unlawful” activity

I’m heading home to write. Police made it clear there will be no charges or fines here today.