Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

COVID-19

Kamloops touted for its compliance with provincial health guidelines as fines come into play

Aug 21, 2020 | 4:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — The province is taking a firmer stance on large gatherings, adding fines of up to $2,000 to their arsenal in the fight against COVID-19.

“So, if you’re hosting a large penthouse party, organizing a street gathering or drum circle on the beach, we will be watching,” said B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth.

Kamloops Deputy Mayor Dieter Dudy says Kamloops residents have behaved well throughout the pandemic, but even so, he’s in favour of penalties for those not following the rules.

“I think it’s been a long time coming,” Dudy said. “I think you’ve unfortunately had a few bad apples in the bucket, so to speak, that have made it difficult for other people to be comfortable with their health because they’re hosting these big parties and people are getting sick and they’re infecting other people. With that said, I would say that 90 per cent of the people in this province get it.”

Police and bylaw officers will be able to fine hosts of gathering of more than 50 people up to $2,000. Anyone promoting such an event could face a $200 ticket, as could those who refuse to leave.

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To this point, Kamloops bylaw officers have engaged in an educational approach, rather than a punitive one.

“We’ve been really lucky because Kamloops residents have been very compliant,” said Bylaw Services Manager Tammy Blundell. “We haven’t had to issue any — not that we had the ability to issue fines up until now — but we prepared the documentation to support a fine, and up until now we haven’t had to do that.”

Blundell says there were around 120 complaints to Bylaw Services in the first six to eight weeks of the pandemic.

“I just looked at the numbers today, and last month between July 1 and August 1… there were about seven complaints against businesses and approximately three against residences,” Blundell said. “When we initially attend the residence or the business, they’re 100 per cent compliant. It’s around the education and making sure that if it’s walking down the same aisle, or it doesn’t matter what it is, but they are very responsive.”

In addition to fines related to parties, tickets can also be issued to people who don’t follow guidelines within businesses.

“I think for now, it’s a good first step,” said Kamloops Chamber of Commerce President Tyson Andrykew. “Do I believe it’s enough to deter everyone? I’m not so sure, I think the province may need to revisit it in the future and take a stricter measure and raise those fines and those penalties, but for now it should be a good deterrent.”

Blundell says incidents will be looked at on a case by case basis.

“We’ll address every single complaint and/or case selectively,” she said. “I think that’s the important piece, and the response. If we’re going to get a non-compliant response, then I think that’s where we’ll take the information and we can issue a fine later on, we don’t have to issue a fine right away. But, we can talk about that amongst our team and then respond afterwards.”