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By Wylie Henderson

Travel at your own Risk

Restrictions on non-essential travel take effect in B.C.

Apr 23, 2021 | 2:07 PM

New restrictions meant to stop non-essential travel to, out of, and around B.C. are now in effect.

The province’s Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says this means travel is prohibited outside of one’s regional health zone.

This includes non-essential travel for people coming to B.C. from outside of the province.

“While this order doesn’t stop someone from travelling large distances within their own region, from Merritt to Nelson or Abbotsford to Squamish for example, that doesn’t mean that these trips should be happening,” says Farnworth. “Our message on travel has not changed. Do the right thing, and stay within the area that you live.”

There will be instances and exemptions where travel is allowed – this could include things like obtaining health care or going to work.

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The B.C. Government will be working with law enforcement bodies and the Ministry of Transportation to set up roadside checks at some of the boundaries, and new signage to deter travelers will be set up at borders.

“The Province is working with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on highway signage, and installing new signage at the border,” explains Farnworth. “BC Ferries are restricting non-essential vehicle passage, deterring non-essential bookings and limiting sailings.”

The B.C. government also says they have worked with the tourism and accommodation industry to strongly encourage all operators/businesses to support the order by declining new bookings from outside their regional zones, and cancelling existing bookings from outside their regional zones, including those from out of province.

B.C. Parks has also been instructed to work with the public about restrictions and refund bookings where necessary.

Farnworth stresses that RCMP will not engage in random checks, and that roadside checks will be carried out in a model similar to Counterattack campaigns on impaired driving.

These restrictions will remain in effect until at least May 25.

(The Drive FM, Cranbrook)