B.C. Government Declares State of Emergency

British Columbia has declared a state of emergency, coordinating resources across all levels of government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Farnworth, B.C. Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety made the announcement on Wednesday, one day after the COVID-19 outbreak was deemed a public health emergency by the provincial health officer.

“We need to ensure that we will continue to have the means to coordinate our response across government, across industry and that we have the tools available to protect the most vulnerable,” said Farnworth. “This declaration will make sure federal, provincial, and local resources are delivered in a joint coordinated way to protect the people of our province.”

Farnworth said that by declaring a state of emergency in British Columbia, they are taking an “all-hands-on-deck approach” to their response.

“The declaration also includes the means to secure critical supply chains to ensure people have access to essential goods and services and that any infrastructure necessary to support the response to COVID-19 is readily available,” added Farnworth.

B.C. Legislature will return with a limited session on Monday, March 23rd to pass emergency legislation and ensure the provincial government remains operational.

Farnworth encouraged everyone to remain safe, remain healthy, and take responsibility for stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Follow the advice of the public health officer, be vigilant about your hand hygiene, maintain social or physical distancing and stay home if you’re sick. We are going to get through this together, all of us.”

Bradley Jones
Bradley Jones
Delivering local news and sports in the East Kootenay since April 2016, Bradley now calls Cranbrook home. Born and raised in Airdrie, AB, Bradley graduated from Lethbridge College, and has been a journalist, news anchor and reporter since 2014. Bradley took on local News Director responsibilities when he moved to Cranbrook in 2016. He is now Vista Radio's Kootenay News Director, managing and overseeing all news operations at the company's five regional radio stations in Cranbrook, Creston, Nelson, Castlegar, and Grand Forks.

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Puck drop date set for KIJHL season

The puck will drop on the 2025-26 KIJHL regular season on Friday, September 19, when the league’s 21 teams each embark on a 44-game schedule.

Council votes to bring Baker Street market back downtown

Following months of community debate and vendor frustration, Nelson’s Wednesday farmers market will return to it’s longtime home on Baker Street next week (July 16). 

Report makes six recommendations on event safety after Lapu Lapu festival tragedy

A report commissioned by the B.C. government after a deadly attack at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver makes a number of recommendations to improve security at public events.

B.C. SPCA welcomes proposed ban on exotic cats

The B.C. SPCA is welcoming proposed regulations from the B.C. government to ban all exotic cat species. 

RCMP seeking two men after explosion outside MLA Bowinn Ma’s North Van office

RCMP have released images of two men they believe were involved in an explosion last month in North Vancouver, which damaged the front door of the building housing the constituency office of B.C. NDP MLA and cabinet minister Bowinn Ma.
- Advertisement -