Download a PDF version
Premier John Horgan and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announced yesterday that the BC government is taking additional measures under the State of Provincial Emergency, effective immediately, to ensure the safety of British Columbians.
The new ministerial orders under the Emergency Program Act set in place powers and obligations to ensure a coordinated approach to making sure British Columbians are physically and economically protected. Any states of local emergency declared by municipalities are suspended, bylaw officers have the power to carry out provincial orders, and protections for the supply of essential goods and services are in place, among other orders.
The City of Terrace activated its Emergency Operations Centre on March 12 and has been in regular contact with the Province since that time. At the Province’s request, the City did not declare a State of Local Emergency. The City is taking the matter of the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously and supports the goal of a coordinated approach. “We are having regular calls with the Province, Northern Health, Emergency Management BC, and other provincial agencies to make sure we take a collaborative approach to making sure our residents are safe,” Mayor Carol Leclerc said. “Our RCMP have already been reinforcing the importance of physical distancing within businesses still operating.”
The new ministerial orders in place provide bylaw officers with the authority to support enforcement of provincial health officer orders for business closures and gatherings, and the City supports this decision since bylaw officers are already monitoring some of these areas locally. Currently, all City playgrounds and sports courts are closed, and bylaw officers are providing reminders about appropriate physical distancing.
Terrace now has the only airport accepting commercial traffic in the Northwest. “We are a hub for this region, and so we support the province in the protection of the supply of essential goods and services both in Terrace and the greater community. Keeping our supply chain functioning is vital. With that in mind, it is more important than ever that we all follow the orders of Dr. Bonnie Henry, our Provincial Health Officer: maintain physical distancing, do not leave home if you are sick, and if you are coming back to our community after being abroad, you must self-isolate for 14 days immediately.”
To see more information on the Province’s announcement, visit https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0020-000568.
For updates from the City of Terrace regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://www.terrace.ca/COVID19.
In order to streamline questions from the public and ensure a prompt and accurate reply, all public enquiries may now be directed to COVID19@TERRACE.CA.
###
Media Contact:
Kate Lautens
Communications Advisor
City of Terrace
250-638-4712
klautens@terrace.ca
END
###