Mayor Brad West has contacted the RCMP, saying this act demands accountability beyond any fine the city can levy

A pair of people have been slapped with fines after twice being caught reselling masks in a small, community park

PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — A pair of people selling medical masks at inflated prices in a Port Coquitlam park has drawn the ire of the city’s mayor, who wants them investigated and criminally charged.

A concerned constituent contacted Mayor Brad West after seeing two people set up with cardboard boxes full of masks for sale beside a baseball diamond in a small, community park.

“I was able to immediately get our by-law dispatched and we caught the people. We caught the people and we levied the maximum available fine which is $500, and more importantly we forwarded the matter to the RCMP because this cries out for criminal accountability,” he said.

If there is any justice in this world, there will be criminal accountability for this inexcusable act of greed, selfishness & callousness. — Brad West (@BradWestPoCo) March 22, 2020

West says the pair returned after the first fine was levied, a move he describes as “shocking, egregious, callous, selfish, irresponsible.”

He has alerted to Coquitlam RCMP and hopes criminal charges will be pursued, adding the city only has the authority to impose fines.

“Clearly, there’s not a fine large enough that they city has to be able to deter this,” he said.

“There needs to be a very clear message sent to these people and anyone else who would try and profit off of medical supplies at a time of unprecedented public health crisis.”

The pair’s actions are particularly galling to West because shortages of crucial supplies have been reported.

“Our community, our province, our country, the entire world is coming together to do their part to stop the spread of this virus.These are medical masks that we’re hearing are in short supply in hospitals.”

He said the matter of how much the duo were charging is beside the point, calling the act itself an affront to “basic human decency.”

With files from Jonathan Szekeres