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Clarifying the Role of Bylaw Enforcement During COVID-19

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed April 6, 2020 4:18 PM

Summary

The Province declared a Provincial State of Emergency on March 18, 2020 in response to the threat of the COVID-19 Virus. Since that date, a number of Ministerial Orders have been issued to control and slow the spread of the virus.

Both Provincial Health Officers and local Bylaw Officers have been asked to provide assistance for compliance and enforcement of Orders around the following specific items:

  • Provincial Health Officers will be monitoring all food premises, including restaurants, mobile food vendors, and grocery stores as well as personal service establishments and pools.
  • Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officers will oversee and report infractions associated with community facilities such as community halls, museums, places of worship, tourist enterprises, recreational facilities and private property.

To report a Provincial health infraction (food premises, including restaurants, mobiles, and grocery stores as well as personal service establishments and pools) please contact Island Health at 250.755.6215.

To report a municipal issue (community facilities such as community halls, museums, places of worship, tourist enterprises, recreational facilities and private property) please contact the City Bylaw Department at 250.755.4422.

More information on the Compliance and Enforcement Guidance can be found on the BC Government's COVID-19 Orders, Notices and Guidance page.

Please note, while there are no Public Health Orders requiring the public to maintain physical distancing outside their own homes, the Province has provided strong recommendations and guidance.

Link to Strategic Plan: Livability is identified as one of the key priorities in the 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. The City plays a critical role in ensuring the public’s safety through RCMP and Bylaw Services.

Key Points

  • Provincial Health Officers will be monitoring all food premises, including restaurants, mobiles, and grocery stores as well as personal service establishments and pools.
  • The City's Bylaw Officers have been directed by the Province to provide assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic by monitoring compliance and providing warnings associated with community facilities such as community halls, museums, places of worship, tourist enterprises, recreational facilities and private property.
  • City of Nanaimo Bylaw Officers are not authorized to detain an individual as a result of a contravention or suspected contravention to a Public Heath Order. The City's bylaw officers are not authorized to issue a fine or penalty associated with a breach of the public health orders.

Quotes

"All levels of government (Federal, Provincial and Municipal) are working together to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our Bylaw Officers will be working with their Provincial counterparts to provide information and advice to the public on how best to comply with the Public Health Orders on a go forward basis."

Leonard Krog
Mayor
City of Nanaimo

Attachments

-30-

Contact:

Dave LaBerge
Manager of Bylaw Services
City of Nanaimo
250.755.4466

Print News Release

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