BC premier says further provincial travel restrictions are not "off the table"

As BC health officials continue to plead with the public to stay close to home at this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier John Horgan said tougher travel restrictions to help make this happen are “not off the table.”

Speaking at a press conference this week, Horgan said the government continues to take its cues on this issue from public health officials.

“If [Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Henry believes there’s an opportunity for us to use some form of further restrictions, we’ll look at that,” he said. “We haven’t taken travel restrictions off the board. Quite frankly, it’s about how practical are they and how can we enforce [them]? There are logistical challenges.”

Horgan also compared BC’s approach to other provinces in Canada.

He said the curfew  in Quebec “has not been particularly effective,” and that some of the harsher restrictions in Ontario have not led to a decline in case counts.

“We are at a new phase of the COVID-19 crisis, and our approach has always been to be nimble, and be focused on what we can do to keep people safe, and protect communities and businesses,” Horgan said. “That’s exactly what we’ll do, but it requires all of us working together.”

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He noted that he also spoke with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney this week on the issue of interprovincial travel and tougher restrictions.

Horgan said he and Kenney share mutual concerns “about people that go back and forth between Alberta and BC,” and the consequential rise in case counts.

“We have not taken anything off the table,” he repeated.

That said, “Practicality is first and foremost in our mind.”