(Image Credit: Government of BC)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 PROFITEERING PREVENTION

Price-gougers, essential good resellers in B.C now faced with $2,000 fines during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 19, 2020 | 3:29 PM

VICTORIA — Police in B.C now have the ability to issue $2,000 violation tickets for anyone caught price gouging, or reselling medical supplies and essential goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A BC Government release today (Apr. 19) states that Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has given police and other enforcement officers this ability through the powers given to the province by the provincial state of emergency.

“These orders are not suggestions, they are the law,” said Farnworth. “These measures will provide enforcement officers and police agencies the ability to enforce the law on these criminal acts and despicable practices, like the reselling of medical supplies and price gouging.”

In order to crack down on profiteering practices, the provincial government is also asking for compliance staff from various ministries and local governments to support the enforcement of this measure.

Compliance staff would include:

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• city bylaw officers
• liquor and cannabis inspectors
• gaming inspectors
• conservation officers
• community safety unit inspectors
• park rangers and natural resource officers
• commercial vehicle safety officials

Along with being able to fine people who price gouge or resell essential supplies, police and other enforcement officers will also be able to ticket people who exceed the quantity limits of certain items in stores. They will also have the ability to fine people who don’t comply with the requirement for hotels and other lodging operators to provide accommodations to be used for self isolation, or support essential workers when the province asks for it.

The release states that the violation tickets are a timelier alternative to prosecution through the courts.

Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) is also working with the province to keep residents safe from businesses or people trying to profit from the pandemic. CPBC is the point of contact for all complaints related to price gouging, and will work with police and enforcement officers to get complaints resolved.

For a link to report price gouging, click here.

These measures are also in line with the federal government’s April 14 announcement that allows local and provincial police forces to issue tickets to returning travellers who do not self-isolate for 14 days under the Quarantine Act.