Minister chastises ‘selfish’ residents as B.C.’s state of emergency extended

The B.C. government has issued more than 800 COVID-19 violation tickets over the past five months, to residents one provincial minister calls ‘selfish.’

Figures released by the province show between Aug. 21, 2020, and Jan. 29, 2021, 806 violation tickets were issued, including:

• 141 $2,300 tickets to owners or organizers contravening the PHO’s order on gatherings and events;
• 28 $2,300 violation tickets for contravention of the PHO’s Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order; and
• 637 $230 tickets issued to individuals who refused to comply with direction from law enforcement.
• Since the pandemic began, police agencies in British Columbia have issued 90 violation tickets to individuals who were in contravention of the Federal Quarantine Act, totalling $98,929.

“It’s unbelievable that some people still refuse to put the safety of people and communities above their own selfish needs,” Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, fumed. “The vast majority of British Columbians are doing the right thing, but there are some who continue to ignore the rules or bend them to suit their own purposes. We’re all in this pandemic together, and the only way out of it is together. For those who still don’t get that, we will continue to take measures to protect British Columbians from your actions.”