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By Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: B.C. should consider reopening our economy faster in less-affected regions

Jun 5, 2020 | 4:27 PM

WHILE WE HAVE SEEN THE COVID-19 CURVE flattening here in B.C. — thanks to the work Dr. Bonnie Henry’s team and the efforts of all British Columbians — we are still far from seeing the end of this pandemic’s impacts. Businesses are struggling to get back on their feet, local economies have been uprooted, and people question whether it’s safe to resume activities that were once considered normal. These are shared experiences throughout our province.

In addition to being united by this common thread, it’s important to recognize that communities have experienced the pandemic differently from each other. This is not surprising seeing that our province is nearly the size of the whole of Western Europe. As such, many have begun to wonder whether our reopening plan should take into account these regional differences.

Should a remote northern community that has not seen a single case of COVID-19 have to wait to move into Phase Three until there are absolutely no new cases in Surrey? Should a restaurant in a region that has not seen a new case in weeks follow the same Phase Two guidelines as a restaurant in Vancouver? These are questions that people are beginning to ask, and I think that it is a discussion worth having.

This week, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson sent a letter to the premier asking these very questions. He recommended that the government, under the guidance of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, consider regionally-specific approaches to reopening when it is safe to do so.

No one in living memory has experienced a pandemic of the scale and impact of COVID-19 and as such, there is no known and guaranteed approach to reopening. We can only make the most informed decisions possible given the data that is available to us. Hopefully, we make decisions that prioritize safety, security, and the long-term wellbeing of our communities.

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Looking after our communities must include looking after our small businesses, tourism operators and restaurants that are vital job creators, economic drivers and neighbourhood mainstays. We want to see these businesses thriving again, and it leads us to ask the question: if it is safe for a region to reopen and help speed up their economic recovery, why shouldn’t they?

There is no doubt that Dr. Bonnie Henry and her team have done an excellent job leading British Columbians in flattening the curve, and we should continue to look to her and her team for guidance. But as we move into this crucial period of economic recovery, it is the time to have discussions about what reopening strategies will best serve this province and its varied needs, and if there are safe alternatives to the one-size-fits-all approach.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.