B.C. defends order restricting fuel for parts of province as stations run dry

A day after announcing a restriction on gas for certain parts of B.C., which prompted drivers to run to the pumps, the province is defending the move.

Because of flooding in southern B.C. there is now a reduced supply of gas to the region. So measures were announced and took effect Friday for people in southwest B.C., on Vancouver Island, and on the Sunshine Coast. People in these areas are limited to 30 litres per visit to the gas station.

Shortly after this announcement, a long line formed at gas stations, with some people even bringing jerry cans to stock up.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says it was expected that some would not respect the order.

“The reality is, we made the decision based on the information we have about the supply of gas coming into the province. And it’s critical that we make sure that it is available for the emergency services and for the ability to move and transport goods around.”

Emergency and essential vehicles will have unrestricted access to fuel and the measure will be in effect for a total of 10 to 11 days.

“Yesterday, when I made the announcement, I said, I expect there will be people who will not want to respect that. But I also know this, the overwhelming majority of British Columbians will do the right thing and respect that 30-litre limit,” Farnworth said. “We have seen time and time again … that most people in this province will do the right thing.”

Related Articles: 

• B.C. brings in gas and travel restrictions after catastrophic flooding

• Panic at the pumps? Metro Vancouver gas stations seeing long lineups, high demand

Initially, Farnworth suggested the order would be enforced through the honour system, but he now says gas stations are working to have fuel automatically cut off at the pumps at 30 litres.

“We’ve been in discussion with the gas companies and they are moving as quickly as they can to where the gas meter will automatically flick off at 30 litres,” he said.

“The bottom line is this, people understand that we are in a very challenging situation, that our supply routes have been significantly damaged, that thousands of people who’ve been displaced, [there are] huge impacts in our agricultural sector, that we have to maintain our supply routes, we have to be able to get goods to where they’re needed. And we have to have our emergency services functioning, and that means for these 10 days, we all have to do our part. And that means that the 30 litre limit per fill-up or every time you fill is there. Doesn’t mean that three days later, you can’t go back. It just means that right now, 30 litres is the maximum that you can take.”

Farnworth adds the province is working with gas companies in the U.S. to get more fuel up to B.C.

“In terms of gas coming up from Washington state, Oregon and California, we have been actively in discussions with gas companies down there. It would be barged up. It would take about three days from the farthest to actually to be able to get them up here. But that work is in progress,” he said. “In terms of C.P. Rail on the railways when they when they reopen that the transport a fuel is a top priority.”

Here is a full list of vehicles exempt from gas restrictions:

• Emergency service vehicles (fire, police, ambulance and health care including urgent medical treatment)
• Public transit vehicles
• Commercial transport trucks – critical goods and services (food and beverage, health care, safety)
• Refrigerated trucks
• Potable water delivery/wastewater service
• Grocery delivery
• Road repair, maintenance and recovery vehicles/tow trucks
• Military vehicles
• Critical infrastructure, construction and repair vehicles
• Home-care workers
• Municipal services vehicles
• First Nations government services vehicles
• BC Ferries/Coast Guard/tugboats/marine emergency/pilot boats
• Canada Post and other couriers/package delivery vehicles
• Vehicles for the provision of critical government services
• Airport authority vehicles and air travel
• Waste disposal/recycling
• BC Hydro, Fortis and other heavy-duty and light-duty utility vehicles
• Telecommunication repair and installation vehicles
• Fuel delivery trucks and boats
• School buses
• Taxis
• Agricultural and farm-use vehicles, including vehicles supporting flood response
• Veterinarians supporting flood response
• Inter-city buses

B.C. pushes for PCR testing changes to be brought in sooner

With B.C. facing a gas shortage due to supply lines being compromised by recent flooding, Farnworth says the province is also pressing the federal government to help British Columbians access more fuel.

The public safety minister is formally asking for the COVID-19 testing requirements to be dropped sooner, with changes to the travel measures already set to take effect later this month.

“We would like to see them lift that use of the PCR. It’s going to be done anyway on the 30th of November, so why not do it now. I put the request in to Minister (Bill) Blair and he’s busy working on that,” Farnworth said.

Lifting the requirement early would allow British Columbians to drive across the border into the U.S. to fill up on gas there as another alternative until fuel issues can be resolved in the province.

Canada is set to lift its COVID-19 molecular test requirement for fully vaccinated Canadians who take a trip that is less than 72 hours long. That means, as of the end of the month, people will be able to hop across the border for a quick trip without having to undergo a costly test.

– With files from Denise Wong