Horgan and cabinet to seek legal counsel on travel ban

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Would a travel ban violate charter rights? Cabinet to get legal advice

The Premier says he's getting legal advice on whether BC can close its borders to travellers. John Horgan says he's been hearing from British Columbians who are concerned about the number of out of province visitors at places like Whistler, while they are making sacrifices by staying at home. He says the province has resisted calls to close its borders because Canadians have the right to travel freely within their own country. However, he says cabinet will be consulting with lawyers on whether a travel ban would be a violation of Canada's Charter of Rights.

"I want to put this either to rest, so that British Columbians understand that we cannot do that and we're not going to do that or there is a way to do it and we will work with other provinces to achieve it. But people have been talking about it for months and I think its time we put it to bed finally and said either we can do it and this is how we would do it or we can't and this is the reason why and that is the objective over the next couple of days."—Premier John Horgan.

The Premier says the discussion will be part of a two-day virtual cabinet retreat. He says other items on the agenda will include more initiatives related to the overdose crisis, affordable housing and daycare.

More information on outbreaks not the answer to countering racism against First Nation

The First Nations Health Authority says it is not convinced that releasing more information about where outbreaks are occurring in non-indigenous communities would stop-racist incidents in areas where first nations have disclosed the size of their outbreaks. The issue came to the fore after the Cowichan Tribes released detailed information about the size of their outbreak and the age of those who had contracted the virus. The mayor of North Cowichan said he was angry after learning some Cowichan Tribes members were refused service at a dental clinic and grocery store. Al Siebring suggested that Island Health start releasing similar statistics to show that the virus is in all communities, not just indigenous ones. But, the acting deputy chief medical officer for the First Nations Health Authority, Dr. Nel Wieman does not think that is the answer.

"The racism that's experienced is probably not only related to the release of data. It probably speaks to existing tensions that have been around and relationships between different communities for a long time and it's the pandemic that puts these strained relationships into high relief."—Acting FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nel Wieman.

Wieman says what's really needed is to create an atmosphere of zero tolerance for racist behaviours, rather than a release of more data. She says she's pleased that the Cowichan Tribes have been given support by local municipal leaders, in calling out racism in the community.