A local town councillor in Niagara Region has been temporarily removed as operator of the Fonthill Sobeys while the company’s head office conducts an internal investigation, following complaints about possible COVID-19 contamination.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is also investigating the matter, ministry spokeswoman Janet Deline confirmed on Friday.

She said the ministry has not received a complaint related to COVID-19 at the Sobeys in Fonthill but the store is now part of an investigation. Deline said the ministry investigation was prompted by news articles and inquiries from the media.

On Thursday, Niagara Regional Police said an investigation involving the store was underway, but on Friday said “based on a preliminary review, it has been determined that a criminal inquiry is not an appropriate course of action at this time.”

The police investigation was launched following allegations published in a local newspaper, The Voice of Pelham, that the store’s owner Ron Kore — who is also a Pelham town councillor — had contracted COVID-19 and had been at his store while symptomatic.

The Niagara Dailies have not been able to independently confirm The Voice’s story, and Kore has declined to comment.

However, a Sobeys spokeswoman told the CBC Thursday the company was informed Kore had COVID-19 on April 20 and that he is recovering in isolation at home.

Jacquelin Weatherbee, Sobeys’ vice-president of communications and corporate affairs, said on Friday concerns about the store on Highway 20 are being taken seriously.

“We are in the process of following-up with the inquiries we received to understand people’s concerns and reassure them that everything has been done to ensure the Sobeys Fonthill location is safe for its customers and employees,” said a statement she released to media.

The store was closed late Thursday for a “deep cleaning” but reopened Friday morning.

Sobeys has verified that rigorous cleaning and sanitization protocols are being carried out at the store, Weatherbee said.

Weatherbee said store employees have asked to be tested for COVID-19. “Public health has provided us with the steps employees should follow to request a test,” she said and Sobeys has “advocated” on the employees’ behalf.

“We regret the stress the last few days has placed on employees and the Fonthill community. We have launched an internal investigation and are taking this matter very seriously. We are working in co-operation with all authorities,” she said.

The police investigation came after Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin accused Kore of coming to a council meeting March 23 showing symptoms of COVID-19, and said he may have infected another councillor. The other councillor he referred to is Mike Ciolfi, who died April 13. The Niagara Dailies have not confirmed the Ward 1 councillor had COVID-19, as has been previously reported.

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With the temporary removal of Kore, Sobeys head office will be operating the store until the company’s internal probe has concluded.

Kore is also a Ward 2 councillor for the Town of Pelham and was named citizen of the year in 2017 by the Fonthill and District Kinsmen. He did not respond to an interview request Friday.