Confusion at the border: British Columbians ticketed for seeking essential goods, gas amid floods

Update: The CBSA says a communication breakdown is to blame after ‘a few dozen’ British Columbians were handed fines for crossing the U.S. border to get gas and essential goods and trying to re-enter Canada without a negative COVID-19 test. Read more here.

B.C.’s minister of public safety is vowing to clear up confusion at the border, after many tried to cross to get essential goods and were told they couldn’t. Some people say they’ve even been handed hefty fines.

They crossed because of gas and supply chain issues in B.C.’s South Coast, caused by the recent catastrophic flooding in the region.

Highways remain closed, the dairy industry is hard hit, and railway lines have been washed out in some areas. The situation is so dire that it prompted the federal government to issue an exemption to the molecular COVID-19 (PCR test) requirement.

“Given the situation in BC, travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the USA for essential reasons (food, fuel, supply chains) are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements,” the CBSA wrote in a tweet on Sunday. 

It’s a day of confusion at the Canada-U.S. border. Multiple @CityNewsVAN listeners report being allowed down for gas, only to be told PCR test IS REQUIRED. This is happening on such a scale, border agents have set up preliminary check points to determine whether trips essential. pic.twitter.com/GXJYs6fkrc

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) November 22, 2021

On Monday, following many complaints regarding the confusion at the border, B.C Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth released a statement saying he has reached out to the federal government to address the issue of people who have been “erroneously” fined or ticketed.

“I reached out to Minister Bill Blair, my Federal Counterpart, to ensure British Columbians and essential workers who must travel to or through the USA for essential reasons are exempt from the existing Federal PCR testing and quarantine requirements,” he writes in a statement.

“I will be following up with Minister Blair to ask about these reported cases of British Columbians being ticketed for essential travel. Should the travel in these instances prove to be essential, I will ask the Federal Government to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Furious & fined

Ed Beauregard of South Surrey is among the British Columbians who reached out to CityNews after facing troubles at the border. He says he drove south to fill up, but became stuck in limbo as tried to come home. He says he was told by a CBSA officer at the Sumas-Huntingdon crossing he must get a test or he would be issued a $5,700 fine. He blames Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair for the confusion.

“He said that … because of the gasoline rationing in B.C., he was changing the rules and Lower Mainland could take short trips to the U.S. before the Nov. 30th change in rules.”

According to Beauregard, CBSA agents told him they did not receive any instructions to change procedures.

“I am facing a $5,700 fine plus two weeks’ quarantine because I listened to Bill Blair,” he said, adding he’s furious with the miscommunication.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Sunday. “He asked if it would be possible for individuals who currently reside close to border communities to cross over into the United States in order to fuel their vehicles and upon return be exempt from the PCR requirement. This is something that I believe can be accommodated under the exemption regulations that currently exist.”

Beauregard says he will be reaching out to his MP to express his concerns.

Some listeners who got through are now being told to get $275 PCR test (I’ve been told a Bellingham lab is getting swamped), or come back and quarantine + $5,700 fine. Some blame confusion on comments from Minister Bill Blair or this CBSA Tweet: https://t.co/j5WzecJHcU

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) November 22, 2021

Susan, who did not want to share her last name, did the same on Monday.

“I heard that from an MP’s office. So, we came down and we can’t get back or we either accept a ticket … or we get COVID testing,” she said, noting it’s tough to get a test in Blaine or Bellingham right now.

“Because there’s too many people that are caught in the same position that we’re in. We’re having to pay $275 USD per person to get a COVID test to get back home.”

Susan is also angry, saying she feels the federal government lied to her, and she wants to be reimbursed for the cost of the test.

“I would never be irresponsible and come down when I shouldn’t, or do something that I wasn’t okay to do … I follow the rules.”

Related articles:

• Exemptions exist for British Columbians needing to drive to U.S. for fuel, food

• British Columbians urged to stop panic buying amid supply chain issues

• B.C. ‘cautiously optimistic’ CP railways could reopen Tuesday after floods

Discretionary travel still not allowed

We’re hearing the CBSA has set up a preliminary checkpoint to get clarity about why people are planning to go into the U.S. before they hit the actual border.

When asked about the situation, the CBSA reiterated what was stated in its tweet, adding there are “many factors” that are considered when a CBSA officer determines what a traveller is instructed to do in the name of public health.

“Given the current situation in B.C., travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the United States to get to their residence in Canada, short trips to access necessities such as such as groceries, diapers, baby formula, fuel and medications, or ensure that essential services and economic supply chains continue, are exempt from the COVID-19 pre-arrival test, the test in Canada, and quarantine requirements,” a spokesperson says in a statement.

“There are specific provisions in the Order in Council that CBSA can apply for these emergency situations. These exemptions do not apply to those engaged in discretionary (non-essential) travel. This means that travellers who enter the US for the purposes of shopping for non-essential goods, or to eat at restaurants, visit friends or attend events, would be deemed discretionary and would not be exempt from the requirements for a molecular test. We are working to ensure clear application of this at the border.”

Starting Nov. 30, no negative COVID-19 test will be required upon reentry to Canada by land as long as the trip is less than 72 hours.

We have reached out to the CBSA regarding more information.