sign ouside the Prince George police office

Northern BC RCMP response to COVID passport

By Pamela Haasen, CICK 93.9 Smithers Community Radio, Local Journalism Initiative

CICK News requested a quote from the Northern Detachment of the RCMP in regards to what their response would be if potential patrons to businesses were to become unruly.

Business owners have expressed concerns for their employees who are already experiencing burnout and anxiety in the service industry.

Here is the RCMP’s official response from Madonna Saunderson (Cpl/Cap.) District Advisory NCO (Media Relations) North District:

“The RCMP will continue to use a measured approach when dealing with calls related to COVID-19 non-compliance. Calls will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and our response will be based on this assessment and triaged based on current detachment operations. Officers will attend calls on a priority basis and determine the seriousness of the contravention of public health orders.

There is no cookie cutter approach that can be applied to each call, as such we will make an assessment based on the circumstances surrounding each incident and may use our authority under the current Provincial Health Order to issue fines of up to $2300, or in some authorities under the Criminal Code.

We are all in this together and we ask that people respect that businesses/business owners are doing their best to make it through the pandemic, as are the rest of us. Non-essential businesses are required to abide by the PHO and require proof of vaccination, or they too may be fined.”

Click here to listen to the interview

Top photo credit: Prince George RCMP Detachment. Victoria Street. Police. Sept 14 2017