‘They will be refused travel’: Masks return to B.C. indoor spaces, including ferries and transit

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’re heading out, don’t forget to grab your mask — it’s required in all indoor, public spaces as of Wednesday morning across B.C.

Many people have continued to wear masks in all indoor public spaces, even when the requirement became a “recommendation” close to two months ago. However, they will face many reminders that that is no longer the case as businesses and others begin enforcing the rule once again.

That includes aboard ferries, and people are being warned that in some instances they will be turned away if they don’t comply.

“They know that BC Ferries is following either Transport Canada regulations or the public health officer, but if a customer does refuse to wear a mask and doesn’t have an exempt reason, they will be denied travel,” BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said. “The vast majority of our customers do comply with the mask regulations.”

Marshall notes there are exceptions to the mask requirement, including when people are in their cars, eating or drinking, or in designated eating and drinking areas. People who have an exemption for medical or disability reasons are also not required to wear a mask, but they may be asked to present documentation from a healthcare professional.

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She adds there is, once again, a “zero-tolerance for abuse” policy against ferry workers.

“There have been a few examples of abuse of our staff, and we certainly don’t tolerate that. Our staff come to work every day, they work very hard to provide good customer service, and customers can be denied travel if they are abusing our staff,” Marshall told NEWS 1130.

The mask mandate was reintroduced amid a spike in cases across the province, heavily driven by the Delta variant and the unvaccinated.

“This measure is needed to ensure that these indoor settings are as safe as they can be for all of us as we head into the fall, and we spend more time in activities, whether it’s school or other activities, indoors,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.

“Rates of transmission in our communities have creeped upwards,” she added, noting British Columbians also need to be diligent with other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

In addition to ferries, masks are also now required aboard all transit across the province.

And while BC Ferries is promising to stand firm on the requirement, TransLink says bus drivers won’t enforce the rule, but may remind passengers face coverings are mandatory.

“We hope that we’ll see what we saw last time, which is the vast majority of our customers complying with this new rule,” TransLink spokesperson Jill Drews said.

She notes masks will be required not just aboard buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus, but also when you’re waiting to board, at any indoor or sheltered station, and at stops.

Drews doesn’t foresee implementation of the mask mandate to cause any major disruptions, noting many people have continued to wear a mask while using transit.

“I think what’s important is just communicating out to our customers that this is required now for everyone, even if you felt comfortable not wearing a mask,” she said.

TransLink admits it will take some time to get public information campaigns back up and running, but Drews says verbal and audio announcements will begin right away.

“But it will take some time to get back to the place where we have some of the more creative looking decals and such around the system and buses,” she added.

B.C. lifted its previous mask mandate in July, and the province was expected to move to the next step in its Restart Plan in September. However, Premier John Horgan confirmed on Monday that would not be the case.

The provincial mask order will be reassessed as B.C.’s requirement for proof of vaccination in certain indoor settings comes into effect starting next month.

-With files from Denise Wong