Premier John Horgan is suggesting drivers with out-of-province plates who are worried about being harassed take the bus, ride a bike or get B.C. plates.
And he urges British Columbians to be calm and respectful, because “we don’t know the circumstances of individuals when we come upon them.”
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said interprovincial travel is allowed. The border between Canada and the United States remains closed to non-essential travel until at least Aug. 21, when the issue will be reconsidered by the Canadian and American governments.
Incidents of harassment and of fears of the spread of COVID-19 have been reported across the country when drivers with out-of-province or out-of-country licence plates are spotted.
Within B.C., there have been concerns about U.S. drivers who say they are heading to Alaska but appear to be enjoying time in B.C. as tourists.
For motorists with out-of-province plates, Horgan said, “I would suggest perhaps public transit. I would suggest that they get their plates changed. I would suggest that they ride a bike.”
If a driver is living in B.C. and planning to stay here, “the appropriate thing to do would be to get a B.C. driver’s licence and B.C. plate on your vehicle.”
It is incumbent on those drivers during this time of heightened anxiety to help reduce that anxiety, Horgan said.
B.C. wants to keep its borders closed until other jurisdictions get a better handle on the virus, Horgan said in a teleconference Monday.
Last month, the mayor of Sicamous said his community embarked on a COVID-19 kindness campaign to counter concerns about animosity after reports of rudeness toward people driving vehicles with out-of-province licence plates.
Mayor Terry Rysz said the Shuswap community, known as the houseboat capital of Canada, wanted residents to start saying hello to people and stop looking at licence plates.
— With a file from The Canadian Press
