Close X
Saturday, November 2, 2024
ADVT 
National

Police group pushes back on B.C. roadblocks

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2021 11:09 PM
  • Police group pushes back on B.C. roadblocks

British Columbia's solicitor general says the government will release details of what is considered essential travel later in the week as the province considers using roadblocks to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Mike Farnworth described the checkpoints as a type of "counterattack," often used to find drunk drivers, but this time meant to discourage recreational travel outside of a person's health authority.

His comments come as the National Police Federation released a statement saying it has "grave concerns" about police taking part in enforcing a COVID-19 ban on non-essential travel.

A statement from Brian Sauvé, president of the federation, says asking the police to enforce roadblocks puts even greater pressure on limited resources and exposes officers to further risk and possible COVID-19 infections.

"Equally important, we are continuing to enhance and build on our relationships with vulnerable and racialized communities, and the ambiguity and potentially negative impacts of these orders risk reversing this progress," he said.

He also pointed to a similar attempt in Ontario where the province had to pedal back enforcement measures.

Officers were originally given powers to stop any pedestrian or driver to ask why they're out or request their home address. But on Sunday, Doug Ford's government limited police to being able to stop people who they had reason to believe were participating in an "organized public event or social gathering.''

Police forces in Ontario had said they had no intention of exercising their new powers ahead of the reversal.

Sauvé noted that police services took the "unusual step" of rejecting the orders.

"They explained in no uncertain terms that Ontario police officers had no appetite to act on enhanced powers that are typically found in police states, and that doing so would erode a currently fragile public trust, especially with vulnerable and racialized communities," he said.

The province reported 862 new cases of COVID-19 today and seven more deaths.

A statement says more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered and people who are 30 years and older are eligible to register for the vaccine in the age-based vaccination program.

MORE National ARTICLES

Supreme Court to rule on carbon tax next week

Supreme Court to rule on carbon tax next week
The court decision expected Thursday will determine the fate of the central pillar of the Liberal climate change plan.

Supreme Court to rule on carbon tax next week

Two bodies found inside home in B.C. after fire

Two bodies found inside home in B.C. after fire
The Mounties say in a news release officers were assisting with traffic control around the fire at the residence when the bodies were found.

Two bodies found inside home in B.C. after fire

B.C. money laundering report gets extension

B.C. money laundering report gets extension
A commission statement says the COVID-19 pandemic created delays by forcing the hearings and much of its work to be done online.

B.C. money laundering report gets extension

Meng border exam only of interest to U.S.: lawyer

Meng border exam only of interest to U.S.: lawyer
Mona Duckett told a B.C. Supreme Court judge hearing Meng's extradition case that some questions posed by Supt. Sanjit Dhillon had nothing to do with her admissibility into Canada.

Meng border exam only of interest to U.S.: lawyer

B.C. completes most surgery delayed by first wave

B.C. completes most surgery delayed by first wave
He said the province opened new and unused operating rooms, added hours on weekdays and weekends, and also hired more staff including surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists as part of its plan to catch up on procedures.

B.C. completes most surgery delayed by first wave

NDP members enter debate over anti-Semitism

NDP members enter debate over anti-Semitism
Nearly 50 NDP riding associations have endorsed a motion that opposes a working definition of anti-Semitism set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

NDP members enter debate over anti-Semitism