COVID-19: Feds Vow to Eliminate British Columbia Fines for Traveling Without a PCR Test | The Canadian News

The federal government is expected to waive the $ 5,700 fine several British Columbia residents received Monday for returning to Canada without producing a negative molecular COVID-19 test.

The travelers told border guards at the Canada Border Service Agency that they were going to the United States to get gasoline.

The federal government announced over the weekend an exemption for Canadians traveling for gasoline and food to the current law that requires a negative molecular COVID-19 test.

The exemption was implemented to help take pressure off Metro Vancouver’s gas supply after the provincial government imposed a limit of 30 liters per day for non-essential vehicles.

The rule change was just an amended policy to help British Columbia residents deal with the aftermath of last week’s storm.

Marlane Jones told Global News that she traveled from her home in South Surrey to the United States on Monday morning. He filled his vehicle with gasoline and was back at the Pacific crossing in 10 minutes.

“I came back and CBSA fined me $ 5,700 because they said I was coming back without the mandatory PCR test,” Jones said.

“The other option was to go further south and get a PCR test and wait for the results for up to 72 hours. I had no medicine, no clothes, so I got the ticket. “

The CBSA border guard told Jones that she was the ninth person at 8 a.m. Monday morning to be fined.

They tested him for COVID-19 at the border, but he was missing a piece. Jones then went and received a PCR test in Surrey and must now isolate at home until negative.

“I thought I was doing something good. I have to tell you that it was quite intimidating to come to Canada as a Canadian and have the CBSA speak to you like that, ”Jones said.

The $ 5,700 fine was imposed on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada for violations of the Quarantine Act.

Senior government officials have told Global News that PHAC will not pursue the fines issued to Jones and others.

Instructions have now been given to the CBSA and the rules were incorrectly applied in this case.

BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he reached out to Federal Minister Bill Blair as soon as he learned of the fines.

“It is my understanding that, in some cases, British Columbia residents may have been mistakenly ticketed while traveling for valid and essential reasons, such as access to fuel and food,” Farnworth said.

“I will be contacting Minister Blair to ask about these reported cases of British Columbia citizens receiving essential travel tickets. If travel in these cases is essential, I will ask the Federal Government to solve this problem as soon as possible ”.