B.C. RCMP won’t turn Albertans away this long weekend

VANCOUVER – The RCMP in B.C. will be increasing COVID-19 road checks this long weekend, hoping to keep people from taking a non-essential trip outside their health zone. But while some British Columbians travelling too far from home will be turned back, anyone coming in from Alberta will be allowed through.

“There aren’t any current restrictions in place that restrict travel from Alberta into B.C.,” said Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet.

She says while Albertans are discouraged from coming to B.C., the four road checks going up this weekend are not intended to keep them away. No stops will be set up at the Alberta-B.C. border.

“If a person from Alberta chooses to come to B.C., we’re asking that they stay in the health region that they are in, and not travel outside of that health region,” she explained.

Related article: COVID travel restrictions remain through May long as B.C. hints at easing of rules

For the purposes of travel restrictions, the province is divided into three regions: Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities (combined), Interior Health and Northern Health Authorities (combined), and Island Health Authority.

Traffic through the B.C. RCMP road checks has been on the rise in May, as have the number of vehicles being turned back. Last weekend, police stopped more than 2,000 drivers, 30 of whom turned around voluntarily.

The road checks will be set up at these locations:

• Highway 1 in the Boston Bar area
• Highway 3 in the Manning Park area
• Highway 5 in the Old Toll Booth area
• Highway 99 in the Lillooet area

“We would like all travelers to know that we will be increasing the number and duration of the road checks leading up to, and through this long weekend,” says RCMP https://t.co/pFgNmdYVsl

— Hana Mae Nassar (@HanaMaeNassar) May 19, 2021

The fine for those defying the ban on non-essential travel in B.C. is $575.

With files from Tim James