
The B.C. government has declared a provincial state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement by Solicitor General Mike Farnworth comes one day after the province’s Medical Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, declared a public health emergency.
“I want to ensure our government is doing everything possible to address this crisis,” Farnworth said, in announcing the two week emergency. “These are extraordinary times.”
He says the declaration will allow the government to implement a provincial emergency plan or any provincial emergency measures. It also authorizes local authorities to implement their own emergency measures.
With the declaration, the province will be able to prohibit travel to or from any area of the province. It will also allow the province to procure, fix prices for or ration food, clothing, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, and other essential supplies.
“They are additional powers and if necessary, they can be exercised,” Farnworth added. “But the key thing right now is to ensure that we are ready. That we have the ability to deal with situations as they occur.”
Farnworth also says the Legislature will resume next week with a ‘limited number of members’ to pass key legislation, like changes to the Supply Act and the Employment Standards Act.
There are 87 MLA’s in BC, but the province has limited gatherings to 50 people. Quorum will be ‘about 12’ Farnworth noted, with 8 NDP MLAs, 2 Liberal MLAs and 2 Green MLAs.