Courtesy of Canadian Press

By Ethan Ready

price gouging fines

Province announces price gougers can be fined $2,000

Apr 19, 2020 | 10:53 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Province has announced measures that will allow police to issue $2,000 fines to individuals who are looking to profit from price gouging on essential supplies, as well as the reselling of medical supplies and other essential goods in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General provided the update on compliance and enforcement under the provincial state of emergency.

Effective as of Sunday, April 19, 2020, these new measures are enacted under the provincial state of emergency, using the powers of the Emergency Program Act (EPA) in the ongoing support of the Province’s approach to the COVID-19 response and recovery.

“These orders are not suggestions, they are the law,” said Farnworth. “These measures will provide enforcement officers and police agencies the ability to enforce the law on these criminal acts and despicable practices, like the reselling of medical supplies and price gouging.”

The Province is calling upon compliance from provincial ministries and local governments to support enforcement for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency. With this, municipal bylaw officers, liquor and cannabis inspectors, gaming inspectors, conservation officers, community safety unit inspectors, park rangers, natural resource officers, commercial vehicle safety officials and sheriffs are all being called to be in compliance with the enforcement.

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Police and other enforcement officers are empowered to actively enforce EPA orders and issue $2,000 violation tickets for infractions throughout the COVID-19 state of emergency, focusing on the Province’s ban on reselling essential goods and supplies and price gouging.

If required, police and other enforcement officers will also be able to actively enforce and ticket those who:

• exceed the quantity limits on the sale of specified items; and
• do not comply with the requirement for hotel and other lodging operators to provide accommodation at the request of the Province to serve as self-isolation facilities or to support essential workers.

According to the Province, violation tickets are a timelier alternative to prosecution through the courts and increase the Province’s enforcement toolkit to support the COVID-19 response. Discretion will be exercised by each individual detachment.

The Province is also working with Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) to keep British Columbians safe from businesses and individuals who are trying to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. CPBC will be the first and main point of contact for all complaints related to price gouging of essential goods and supplies, and will ensure those complaints are resolved appropriately in coordination with police and enforcement officers.

British Columbia is currently under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 crisis, giving the government powers to issue public health orders to promote physical distancing and self-isolation, as well as to enforce those orders with penalties.