Explainer: Residents of Small B.C. Communities Are Asking Visitors to Stay Away
Some are frustrated with visitors who chose not to stay home over the Easter weekend
In response to a recent spike in travel despite the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs from small communities are calling on the provincial and federal government to restrict who can ride BC Ferries during this health crisis.
Most of the islands have a median age of over 60 and either limited or no access to medical services. This is one reason why, about a month ago, residents of the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island asked visitors to stay away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We urge everyone to stay home and avoid discretionary travel to and from the islands,” said Peter Luckham, Chair of Islands Trust Council, in a press release from Islands Trust.
“As ferry-dependent communities, we are especially vulnerable and face additional challenges. Now is not the time to take a holiday or visit your vacation property.”
BC Ferries has reduced the number of sailings on all routes by half due to COVID-19.
However, Global News reported that on the Thursday prior to Easter, the 9:00 pm sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay was 95 per cent full and the 7:30 pm sailing to the Southern Gulf Islands was 99 per cent full. Those figures refer to the number of vehicles on the ferry, not the number of passengers.
Paul Manly, MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, wrote a letter to the prime minister and B.C. premier asking them to restrict non-essential travel on BC Ferries.
“There can be no justification for a rise in ferry ridership during a long weekend in a public health emergency,” he wrote.
He also wrote that, because BC Ferries doesn’t have the authority to stop people from getting on the ferries unless they report symptoms for COVID-19, it’s on the government to step in.
“This can no longer just be a request for people to stay home. The government needs to restrict travel and enforce that restriction,” wrote Manly.
A petition calling on BC Ferries to limit travel to essential services and “implement restricted access for residents who are trying to return home,” has been launched by Bronwen Blunt. Blunt shares Manly’s concerns and says the ban should apply to all routes going to and from the Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver.
In an interview with Global News, she said there should be a ban on non-essential travel in place before the May long weekend.
B.C. communities including Tofino, Port Alice, Port Hardy, the Gulf Islands, Bowen Island, Texada, Hornby, and Denman Islands, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, Whistler and Harrison Hot Springs have asked non-locals to stay away until it is safe to visit again.
