Have you noticed someone not following the provincial health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Perhaps your neighbours hosted a large, raucous house party, or maybe you know someone who was actively promoting a gathering of over 50 people. Either way, the City of Vancouver asks you to report these instances through its online system.
Launched in August 2020, the online system allows people to report violations of B.C.'s public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Police and other provincial enforcement officers have been given the ability to issue $2,300 violation tickets for owners or organizers contravening the provincial health officer’s (PHO) order on gatherings and events. Individuals may be fined up to $575.
But as of Sept. 13, people aged 12 and older will be required to show proof of one dose of vaccine for entry to a broad range of discretionary events and businesses throughout the province.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters that a host of people including cannabis inspectors, health inspectors, community safety units, gaming investigators and bylaw officers may issue fines.
"If businesses are flouting the rules and putting people at risk, then there are implications for that," she said.
The fine for refusing to show proof of vaccination is up to $575 for individuals.
Need to get proof of vaccination? Here are all the ways you can access your BC Vaccine Card.
Who should you contact in Vancouver if you spot an individual or business contravening the order?
A spokesperson for the City of Vancouver told Vancouver Is Awesome that city staff and park rangers actively provide education about compliance with provincial health orders but they do not have authority to enforce these orders through tickets and fines.
Instead, the city says Vancouver Police may issue tickets and penalties to people and businesses that violate the orders. These tickets are at the "discretion of enforcement officers, including police, and B.C.’s liquor and cannabis inspectors, gambling investigators and conservation officers."
But police say they aren't focused on enforcing the latest public health order.
Vancouver Police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison told V.I.A. that the vaccine passport system just came into effect and that people need some time to get accustomed to it.
"The vaccine passport system has just come into effect and it will take some time for everyone to get used to the new system," he explained.
"The VPD's focus will continue to be suppressing violent crime, investigating criminal offences, and responding to 9-1-1 emergencies, in addition to the myriad other roles we play, such as traffic enforcement, investigating missing persons, and other public safety initiatives."
Instead of contacting police, the VPD hopes business owners will try to resolve conflicts before contacting them.
"We expect that business owners will follow the rules as they relate to vaccine passports, and we trust that everyone will do their best to resolve conflicts before calling police," he said.
Ministry of Health short on enforcement answers
Vancouver Coastal Health, when asked about enforcement of the vaccine card, passed all questions to the Ministry of Health.
A spokesperson for the ministry told the Richmond News said that non-emergency contraventions of the PHO will be “communicated through local government bylaw offices to follow up on concerns and engage police departments, WorkSafeBC and other authorities as needed.”
The ministry stated that, outside of office hours, reports for PHO violations could be directed to police non-emergency lines.
“…as always, police should continue to be called in circumstances where there are risks to public safety such as aggressive behaviour and/or threats of violence,” the spokesperson added.
The ministry wouldn’t say if the “enforcement team” would be carrying out random checks or only when complaints are made.
And it wasn’t able to answer what powers officers have to ask a customer in a restaurant, for example, to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
If people are acting aggressively or using violence, please contact 911 immediately.
Find out more information about violation tickets for unsafe COVID-19 behaviour.
With files from Alan Campbell / Richmond News.
