Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has declared a provincial state of emergency on COVID-19.
Farnworth said a provincial state of emergency will support the public health emergency declared earlier this week by provincial medical health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
“This declaration will make sure provincial, federal and local resources are delivered in a joint, coordinated way to protect the people of our province. This is an all hands on deck approach,” Farnworth said. “This declaration also includes the means to secure critical supply chains to ensure people have access to essential goods and services and that any infrastructure necessary to support the response to COVID-19 is readily available.”
Farnworth was asked about the state of law enforcement resources, which falls under his ministry. “Law enforcement is mobilized in the same way that any other sector is… My director of police services has been in regular contact with detachments around the province to get an understanding of the impact in terms of if COVID-19 is having an effect as well as preparations that are required.”
Sunshine Coast RCMP have temporarily suspended front counter service at the Gibsons Community Police Office and the office in Madeira Park.
Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam told Coast Reporter that anyone needing front counter service can still go to the main detachment headquarters at 5800 Teredo St. in Sechelt.
“We’re asking the public to try to deal with police by phone if at all possible,” Hallam said, adding that anyone displaying symptoms or who should be self-isolating should also avoid coming into the detachment if it’s not an emergency. “I’ve got lots of office staff that are answering phones and taking calls.”
Some services, like fingerprinting for criminal record checks for people needing them for volunteer work, have also been suspended because they’re difficult to do while practising social distancing.
Hallam said Sunshine Coast RCMP are not experiencing any staffing issues at the moment, but may have to look at adjusting how they respond to calls. “We may have to tailor what types of calls we go to and how we respond. People may get a phone call and not personal attendance [from a police officer].”
“I’m also moving some resources around,” Hallam said. “Our school liaison officer has been moved into a front-line position because she doesn’t have schools to deal with and some of our support units are moving around to supplement our watches.”
Hallam also said local RCMP are well supplied with the personal protective equipment needed to respond to any calls involving potential exposure to the virus. “We’re utilizing that for any situations where we might be dealing with someone who is infected. My officers have the stuff that they need and some of our local stores have put a little bit aside for us to make sure we have it and have also donated some of it to us, which is really nice.”
Farnworth also said during the March 18 briefing that in his role as government house leader he is working with his opposite numbers in the Liberal and Green parties and calling a small number of MLAs, just enough to make up a quorum, back to Victoria next week to pass necessary legislation.
Farnworth was asked what measures the emergency declaration will give him to deal with hoarding, including rationing and price controls.
“I understand people’s concerns about wanting to make sure they have enough supplies at home if they have to self-isolate, but the reality is this – our supply chains are in good shape. People need to use common sense. We are working both at the federal and provincial level with the retail council. Many stores and chains are, in fact, now putting in place limits in response to what has been seen and we’re encouraged by that. The declaration that was put in place today will give additional powers if necessary to back up the work that is taking place.
“There is no place for price gouging. There is no place for anybody, either retailers or individuals, taking advantage of what is an unprecedented health situation in this province, this country and globally… By making products unavailable to people through price or by hoarding does not help anybody. In fact, it has the potential to hurt people… We will be watching very carefully.”
Farnworth also urged British Columbians to work together the way they did when wildfires triggered states of emergency. “The way communities came together during those events was nothing short of extraordinary. We are now asking all people in the province for their support again.”
