Provincial state of emergency extended, cap on non-essential fuel use to be lifted

VICTORIA — A provincial state of emergency will remain in effect for at least another two weeks, but the BC Government says the order limiting non-essential fuel use in the Lower Mainland will be lifted tomorrow (Dec. 14).

In a briefing today (Dec. 13), the province says it has extended the flooding and mudslide related provincial state of emergency until the end of the day on Dec. 28, 2021.

“While we’re making significant progress in our recovery, there is still a lot of work to do to reopen our highways and get people back into their homes,” states Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, “My continued thanks go out to all British Columbians for their patience and compliance during these challenging times.”

The order restricting non-essential travel along Highway 3 and Highway 99 will also remain in place. This includes:

• Highway 3: from the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 3 in Hope to the west entrance to Princeton from Highway 3
• from the junction of Highway 99 and Lillooet River Road to the BC Hydro Seton Lake Campsite access in Lillooet (vehicle weight must be no more than 14,500 kilograms).

However, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the order limiting non-essential fuel use in parts of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island will be eased. The temporary measure put in place on Nov. 19 had put a cap on fuel use to 30 litres of gas or diesel per trip to the gas station.

The province says with the re-opening of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, along with shipments of fuel by truck and barge arriving in B.C., the order can expire by the end of the day on Dec. 14, 2021.