Home News by Region BC & National Stronger measures to enforce Lower Mainland COVID-19 public safety

Stronger measures to enforce Lower Mainland COVID-19 public safety

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Island Social Trends
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Mike Farnworth, Public Safety Minister & Attorney General, August 2020
Public Safety Minister & Attorney General Mike Farnworth delivers announcement about stricter enforcement against people who disregard physical distancing orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a press conference in Vancouver on Friday August 21, 2020.
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Monday November 16, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends

The Province’s ticketing measures are being aligned with the orders of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, on Friday November 13.

This will give police and other provincial enforcement officers the ability to issue violation tickets for additional contraventions in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.

PHO orders were put in place specifically to Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions last week, starting November 10 and running through to 3 pm on November 23.

The new ticketing measures under the Emergency Program Act apply to party buses and limousines. The measures allow police and other enforcement officers to issue additional fines. People who operate or permit operation of perimeter-seating vehicles or perimeter-seating buses in contravention of the PHO’s orders will be subject to a $2,000 fine. People taking part in a social gathering on a bus or limousine in these regions could face individual fines of $200.

All ticketing measures previously announced in August and September 2020 to enforce COVID-19 public safety at gatherings and events remain in effect throughout the province.

In addition to enabling action from police, compliance and enforcement staff from provincial ministries will continue to support enforcement and help issue tickets. This includes liquor, cannabis and gaming inspectors, community safety unit inspectors and conservation officers.

Working in partnership with local governments and other agencies, a comprehensive and integrated compliance and enforcement regime has been built. These violation tickets build on existing tools, such as the ability to suspend or revoke the business or liquor licences of problematic operators.

State of Emergency extended:

On November 10, the Government of British Columbia extended the Provincial State of Emergency until the end of day on November 24, 2020. The state of emergency allows the Province to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the COVID-19 pandemic response. The state of emergency will be in effect for 14 days, but may be extended or rescinded as necessary.

BC has been under a State of Emergency since March 18, 2020 (renewed every 14 days). That was the very next day after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in BC.

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===== Quick Facts:

  • Section E of the PHO’s revised order on gatherings and events prohibits the operation of party buses in affected areas. This prohibition is in place until rescinded by the PHO.
  • In this case, “affected areas” refers to the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
  • Shuttles and small buses may still operate to transport people to and from work, work meetings or health-care appointments.
  • The specifics around orders of the PHO, including the numbers allowable at gatherings and events, will continue to be set at the direction of the PHO.
  • To report concerns around order violations from event organizers, venues or individuals, people are asked to contact their local government’s bylaw office. Local bylaw officers can help follow up on concerns and engage police departments, health officers and WorkSafeBC as necessary. If unable to reach a local bylaw office, contact the local police department’s non-emergency line.

===== LINKS (provided by government):