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BC issues petrol ration order, travel restrictions as highway repairs continue

Vancouver –

The BC government has issued a new order allocating the province’s limited petroleum supplies and restricting travel on some motorways affected by the storm.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the new measures were needed to ensure the movement of “essential people, goods and services” as the province continued to deal with flooding, landslides and other events. another impact of this week’s historic weather event.

“This will help address the supply chain disruptions we’re experiencing,” Farnworth said on Friday. “There will be temporary shortages, but we are taking this important step to maintain our gasoline supply.”

The orders, effective immediately, limit the amount of fuel available for public purchase in the southwestern part of the province, including the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Bay Area Islands, the Sea to Sky and Sunshine corridors. Coast.

Drivers can buy up to 30 liters per visit to gas stations across those areas, Farnworth said.

“Emergency and essential vehicles will have unrestricted access to gas, upon request, using primarily commercial card locking stations,” the minister added. “Healthcare vehicles will continue to use fuel the way they always have.”

The order, which is expected to be in effect until December 1, also includes fines for anyone caught “insulting, threatening or belligerent” toward gas station employees, according to the Department of Safety. Public.

GAS SUPPLY REDUCTION

The fierce storm that hit Sunday and continued through Monday forced the closure of the Trans Mountain pipeline running from Alberta to Burnaby, which carries about 300,000 barrels of oil to the Westridge Seaport each day.

Landslides, floods and washouts also occur on every major road connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of the province and country.

Farnworth said BC has been working with the federal government to get more fuel into the province “in new ways,” including by truck and barge from as far away as California.

“I urge British Columbians to be kind and patient at gas stations. Everyone is doing their best,” the minister added.

The list of essential and emergency vehicles exempted in order of distribution is long, covering everything from fire trucks to grocery delivery vans to school shuttles.

While gasoline supplies remain limited, Farnworth urged drivers to use public transport as much as possible to prevent severe shortages.

TRIP LIMITATIONS

The government has also implemented travel restrictions to reserve limited space on partially reopened highways for essential purposes, such as transporting food, water and livestock.

As of Friday, non-essential travel is prohibited on the following routes:

  • Highway 99 from Lillooet River fork to BC Hydro Seton Lake campground
  • Highway 3 from the junction of Highway 5 in Hope to the west entrance of Princeton
  • Highway 7 from the junction of Highway 9 in Agassiz to the junction of Highway 1 in Hope

Other uses deemed necessary include medical evacuation and emergency medical treatment, transportation of essential personnel, exercise of Aboriginal or treaty rights recognized under Constitutional Act and “return to one’s primary residence.”

What follows will be welcome news for many British Columbians and out-of-town visitors, who were stranded hundreds of kilometers from home due to the storm. In recent days, an increasing number of people have crossed into Washington state to get through highway closures, sometimes without proper documentation.

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