By Pete McIntyre

Vernon’s mayor says province close to issuing B.C.-wide state of emergency

Mar 23, 2020 | 9:49 AM

Vernon’s mayor says the B.C. government is going to cancel all the states of local emergency around the province and bring in one that covers all communities.

Victor Cumming said at Monday’s city council meeting he expects that to roll-out this week and said it will contain clear orders as to what residents can — or cannot — do during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Those orders will give us a consistent, across the board, seemless system around the province,” Cumming said. “All of these orders are items in support of the public health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, who has been giving us direction.”

Cumming and other municipal officials got the details on a conference call with Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

Cumming said the new provincial declaration will be different than one declared earlier this month.

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“That one was health-directed, and now we’re into full, broad [orders]. It allows the province to do some things they couldn’t do in the other one. One of them is managing all essential materials, so they will make sure pharmaceuticals are able to get to rural, remote communities. If there is a food shortage, or those kind of things, they will control the transportation and delivery system,” the mayor said.

Vernon has not declared a state of local emergency, but Armstrong and some other communities have.

“We did not because the province set all that was going to happen. We didn’t have any extra powers that they wouldn’t have already laid on, so we saw that as a unneccessary step,” Cumming said.

Cumming said the provincial order will be very precise.

“These are not guidelines. These are orders. They’ve been very clear. They are not optional,” he said.

Cumming said the city will be responsible for some policing, or enforcement, of the rules.

“[Municipal affairs] Minister [Selina] Robinson was very clear that what we’ll be given is the authority of our bylaw. Let’s say if we have a restaurant that’s not closing, then bylaw [staff] will have the ability to give them a warning, and there will be an obvious next step if they ignore that. We’ll be getting that authority from the province,” Cumming told Vernon Matters and other media.

by Pete McIntyre

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