Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate
Readiness, has released the following statement about travel
restrictions for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation:
“In recent days, B.C. experienced some of the most devastating
wildfires in our history. We want to express our deepest gratitude to
everyone who cancelled their plans to travel to the Interior in recent
days, as well as to our partners in the tourism industry for their
support and understanding.
“The emergency order we put in place on Saturday has had the effect
we required and thousands of hotel rooms were made available for
people forced from their homes, as well as the many firefighters and
emergency crews who are protecting us during the worst wildfire
season in our history. Working with local governments and First
Nations, we will continue to place people in the accommodations that
are now available.
“Because of this, we are lifting travel restrictions for the purpose of
staying in temporary accommodation for most of the southern Interior,
with the exception of West Kelowna. The order will be lifted for
Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon starting
tomorrow, Aug. 23, 2023.
“Non-essential travel to West Kelowna continues to be prohibited for
the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation, including hotels,
motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks, and
campgrounds, to ensure accommodation is available for those who
may need it.
“If you are planning on travelling in B.C., please do so safely and
avoid fire-affected communities. Know before you go and be prepared.
Many communities continue to be impacted by wildfires and continue
to face challenges. Listen to the direction of local communities.
Respect emergency orders and alerts. While many communities in the
Interior are looking forward to welcoming people, others, like Lake
Country and the Shuswap, are advising that now is not a good time
to visit.
“We’re asking anyone who’s travelling to monitor information from the
BC Wildfire Service, EmergencyInfoBC and DriveBC. Highway 1
between Chase and Sorrento remains closed.
“We want to thank everyone for their empathy and willingness to
change their plans to support their fellow British Columbians who are
impacted by these devastating wildfires. The situation remains
dynamic. We will continue to assess the situation, work with local
governments and First Nations, and adapt our response as needed
to.” (https://news.gov.bc.ca/29399)