The interim leader of the BC Liberals is hoping for answers soon about a potential roadmap for lifting restrictions in B.C.

Shirley Bond says the rate of vaccines should be considered as part of that.

“What we do want to see from this government is some form of reopening plan. We look at other jurisdictions across the country, and in fact if you look at one like Saskatchewan, they actually use vaccination thresholds as the key factor in when reopening can take place. I actually think that has some merit.”

Last week, Saskatchewan released a reopening plan that shows some restrictions can be eased three weeks after vaccinating 70 per cent of adults who are aged 40 and older, which will now be on May 30. The province says further restrictions can be eased three weeks after 70 per cent of people 30 and older are vaccinated, while further restrictions will be lifted after 70 per cent of people 18 and older have gotten a vaccine.

In B.C., circuit-breaker restrictions and travel restrictions remain in place until May 25.

Bond was asked if those should be lifted on that day or extended.

“We don’t know what will happen at the end of the long weekend, and I think we will obviously wait and see. The case numbers still remain relatively high. British Columbians however, the vast majority of them, are doing everything they’ve been asked to do and more. That is so important,” she says.

Yesterday, after saying B.C. had reached a milestone by vaccinating 50 per cent of eligible residents with a first dose, Health Minister Adrian Dix said it’s too soon to say if restrictions can be eased on May 25, based on hospitalizations being above 400 for COVID-19, and daily new cases being between 500 and 650 in recent days.

Dix says as of Monday, 62 per cent of people aged 40 and older had been vaccinated.