As COVID-19 cases rise across B.C. and incidents of partying gain attention, a $2,000 fine can now be issued for owners or organizers of large events that violate public health orders.
The fines can be levied for hosting a gathering in excess of 50 people, failing to keep the contact information of everyone who attends an event, or inviting more than five guests into a vacation rental property, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a news conference.
A party with fewer than 50 people is not necessarily legal, he added, since all other public health measures must still be followed.
“Police have their discretion, but if you have 38 people crammed into a kitchen and, you know, there’s no social distancing (taking) place, then clearly that’s in violation of the order and the owner would be subject to a $2,000 ticket,” he said.
Fines of $200 can also be issued to those who attend and encourage large parties. It can also be given to people who refuse to comply with requests to follow the provincial health officer’s order or safe operating procedures of a business or respond with abusive behaviour towards employees.
Farnworth made the announcement Friday, giving police and other provincial enforcement officers the new tool.
The new measures are effective immediately under the Emergency Program Act (EPA) in ongoing support of B.C.’s COVID-19 response and Restart Plan.
In addition to enabling action from police, the province is enlisting compliance and enforcement staff from provincial ministries to support enforcement and help issue tickets for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes liquor, cannabis and gaming inspectors, community safety unit inspectors and conservation officers.
“A party is not worth someone’s life,” said Farnworth Friday.
“There is a small minority of selfish individuals across the province who are disregarding the measures in place.”
The provincial health officer’s order on gatherings and events prohibits hosting a private party or public event in excess of 50 people, failing to provide appropriate hand sanitation and washroom facilities, failing to provide sufficient space in the venue for physical distancing, failing to obtain a list of names and contacts.
The enforcement focus will be on $2,000 fines to owners, operators and organizers for contraventions of the provincial health officer’s order on gatherings and events.
When required, police and other provincial enforcement officers will also be able to actively enforce the order and ticket a series of other infractions, including:
- $200 violation tickets for individuals who actively encourage others to attend gatherings or events that do not comply with established requirements, or refuse to leave or disperse when directed to do so by enforcement officers; and,
- $200 violation tickets for individuals who refuse to comply with requests to follow the PHO order or safe operating procedures of a restaurant, bar or other licensed establishment, or respond with abusive behaviour towards employees.
Police and other provincial enforcement officers will independently exercise discretion to issue tickets for Emergency Program Act order violations under the Offence Act’s Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation.
If violation tickets do not act as a deterrent, or in cases of particularly egregious contraventions or for repeat offenders, police can recommend charges in relation to the offence.
On conviction, judicial penalties of up to $10,000 may be levied.
Last Friday, video surfaced of a large gathering of youth in the Panama Flats neighbourhood in Saanich.
Earlier this month B.C. Premier John Horgan called out patrons at a Langford restaurant said staff were abused by patrons who did not agree with COVID-19 protocols.
General Manager Arun Stiles said two staff involved in an incident in early August will be relieved to hear the new measures announced today. ”
They’ll be happy to hear that there will be consequences if people were to do that again,” Stiles said.
The two hostesses had asked a large group to separate into smaller tables. On their way out of the restaurant, the patrons yelled at the employees.
After the account was chronicled on social media.
“You’ve got employees that are doing their level best to provide an opportunity to come together to share a meal in a safe, comfortable place. And to have idiots come in and be idiots, quite frankly, is not acceptable,” Horgan said.
Restaurants are hoping that the potential for fines will act as a deterrent for bad behaviour.
“We’re just doing our jobs trying to enforce the rules. We’re all in this together,” Stiles said.
The solicitor general used even tougher language on Friday when it comes to dealing with rule-breakers.
“If you are ignorant and stupid enough to encourage people to attend an event and not to follow provincial health officer’s order, then you are setting yourself up for a fine,” Farnworth said.
READ MORE: B.C. premier visits Langford restaurant after staff were verbally abused for enforcing health orders
The province said that if violation tickets do not act as a deterrent, or in cases of particularly egregious contraventions or for repeat offenders, police can recommend charges in relation to the offence.
On conviction, they say there could be judicial penalties of up to $10,000.
Deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson said Thursday the majority of the latest cases of COVID-19 are still being detected in younger adults.
Vancouver Coastal Health has launched a campaign in response to that trend, which includes tips for visiting restaurants, spending time with friends, playing recreational sports, heading to the beach, going on road trips and practising safe sex during the pandemic.
In a release on Friday, the health authority’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Patricia Daly, said the reopening of restaurants and bars, where many young adults work, has contributed to the rise.
But, she said, partying is another factor.
“We’re seeing transmission take place in nightclubs in particular, but also at bars and restaurants, while boating and in other indoor social settings,” Daly said in a statement.
“It’s the way people act and interact in these settings that’s problematic: sharing food and drinks, speaking loudly and in close proximity if there’s background noise, and not social distancing among strangers, especially if they’ve been drinking alcohol.”
At a COVID-19 briefing in Ottawa on Friday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the federal government is also planning to step up messaging aimed at young people next week.
She said Ottawa is working to reach young people through non-traditional media and the best way to measure success will be looking at whether infection rates go down.
BC Ferries and TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation network, are also taking further action to stop the spread of COVID-19. Starting Monday, non-medical masks or face coverings will be mandatory for passengers on both transit services.
With files from The Canadian Press
Mary Griffin
