B.C. extends state of emergency

By Ian Burns

Law360 Canada (October 28, 2020, 12:45 PM EDT) -- The province of British Columbia announced that it has formally extended the provincial state of emergency, allowing health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the province’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

The state of emergency is extended through the end of the day on Nov. 10 to allow staff to continue to take the necessary actions to keep British Columbians safe and manage immediate concerns and COVID-19 outbreaks.

A provincial declaration of a state of emergency allows the province to implement provincial emergency measures and allows access to assets that may be necessary to prevent, respond to or alleviate the effects of an emergency. This is a temporary measure authorized by the Emergency Program Act.

The extension of the provincial state of emergency is based on recommendations from B.C.’s health and emergency management officials. The original declaration was made on March 18, the day after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry declared a public health emergency.