Premier John Horgan has ruled out implementing any interprovincial travel restrictions after a review of his legal options concluded B.C. doesn’t have the power to prevent outsiders from visiting this province.
Horgan said in a late evening statement that it was clear B.C. lacks the authority to prevent residents of other provinces from travelling to visit British Columbia during the pandemic.
“The review of our legal options made it clear we can’t prevent people from travelling to British Columbia,” he said in a statement.
“We can impose restrictions on people travelling for non-essential purposes if they are causing harm to the health and safety of British Columbians. Much of current interprovincial travel is work-related and therefore cannot be restricted.
“Public health officials tell us what is most important is for everyone to obey health orders, wherever they are, rather than imposing mobility rules. Therefore, we will not be imposing travel restrictions at this time.
However, the premier left the door open to what he called “stronger restrictions on non-essential travellers” if COVID-19 transmission levels increase due to interprovincial travel.
Horgan is set to release new details Friday on B.C.’s plans for mass immunization.
Rob Shaw
