A semi-professional musician in Montreal recently received a $449 ticket for playing music in the park on an early Friday evening.
The unemployed artist was issued the fine on Aug. 14, and claims police officers used the pandemic as an excuse, despite the fact that large outdoor gatherings have been allowed in Quebec since Aug.
5. “They told me ‘no’ because (with) the new rules from COVID-19, we are not allowed to play music outside to get people together,” said Marcelo Matus, who is planning to contest the ticket. “It’s too much, I mean I’m not working.
How am I going to pay the ticket?”The 51-year-old claims he had received permission to play from a female police officer in the Parc du Portugal, which happens to be the park next to.