Delta is seeking more power from the province to enforce provincial health orders around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor George Harvie told the Optimist this week that he does feel Deltans are getting the message around physical distancing, but he senses anxiety levels are building among many in the community.
“I asked council on Monday to support me writing a letter to the Premier asking for Delta to have the ability to issue to tickets,” said Harvie. “Vancouver is allowed under the Charter and I think that is very unfair situation. We have one city who has the ability to take enforcement against those who are purposely ignoring the requirement and others can’t. This is a public health situation and everyone should be able to do the same thing.”
The Optimist received a copy of the letter to the province on Wednesday afternoon.
"The City of Delta continues to be very supportive of your efforts to protect the health of British Columbians," said Harvie in the letter. "However, to effectively support your government in limiting the spread of COVID-19, we need the ability at the local level to enforce the orders of the Provincial Health Officer."
Harvie goes onto say that the majority of people are following Dr. Bonnie Henry's orders around physical distancing, but that the city is seeing some people who are flouting these directives.
"We have seen the importance of enforcement in cases like the Bikram Yoga Studio owner. We also know that golf courses, which were closed under our State of Local Emergency, are re-opening, creating the potential for large crowds that will have difficulty meeting physical distancing requirements," said Harvie. "Therefore, we are seeking the ability to enforce the Provincial Health Officer's orders within an education-first model of compliance."
Harvie said Delta police and Delta bylaw officers always focus on education and compliance first and use tickets and fines as a last resort.
"Without this last resort, our work to support your leadership and limit the spread of COVID-19 will quickly lose effectiveness, particularly as good weather encourages more people to gather in groups," he said.
