After the Hart Winter Market opted to shut down this past weekend after a warning from Prince George bylaw officers, city staff has clarified its role regarding provincial health orders at last night’s council meeting (Nov. 23).
Acting city manager Walter Babicz gave council an update on the impacts of the latest COVID-19 restrictions put in place by Dr. Bonnie Henry on Nov. 19 to city operations, which made masks mandatory and suspended events, including those with less than 50 people.
Adam Davey, director of community services, also explained that bylaw services do not have the authority to shut down events or issue tickets, and read a statement provided to local governments from the province.
“The role and responsibilities of local government bylaw officers have not changed. Local government bylaw officers’ primary role is education of the public and compliance support as well as collaboration with the police, authorized provincial enforcement officers and health officers,” he said.
“In a nutshell, local bylaw officers continue to provide education and information based upon a complaint-driven process from the public. In accordance with call volume and priorities, bylaw officers will attend to complaints to offer informational and educational guidance to event organizer or owner. If this approach is unsuccessful, bylaws will contact Northern Health and/or the RCMP where appropriate.”
On Saturday (Nov. 21), city bylaw enforcement officers issued a warning to the Hart Community Centre for not observing the latest provincial health restrictions on crowd gatherings.
Coun. Brian Skakun asked specifically if there was a miscommunication between bylaw services and the organizers of the Hart Winter Market.
Babicz said bylaw officers attended the market following a complaint to provide information regarding provincial health orders.
“Just to be very clear on this one,” added Davey, “the public health order on social gatherings and events does not apply to the Hart Winter Market – straight from Northern Health, they support the event and classify it as a vending market, which is completely separate from the public health order on social gatherings and large events.”
Davey noted that the city is now connected with a liaison officer with Northern Health.
“I think what we are seeing is the province puts out information often late in the afternoon and city needs to quickly adapt and adjust and digest the information,” said Coun. Kyle Sampson.
“[An] unfortunate situation that happened, but it sounds like it’s straightened out and I think we have a good plan in place, and we have a contact at Northern Health whom our bylaw teams are going to be working with. I think these are very big restrictions that came into place very fast and our staff our adapting relatively quickly.”
Babicz said that if the public has questions regarding public health orders related to the city, they can contact bylaw services as it’s their role to provide education, but that the province and Northern Health are also a prevailing source of information and education.
“Yes, we had a glitch. I think we have rectified that, so thank you to the operations here at the city and we have had an opportunity to have some conversations with Northern Health as well,” added Mayor Hall.
The Hart Winter Market will be hosting its third weekend on Nov. 28 and 29 at the Hart Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
