Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma was straightforward earlier this week when discussing raging wildfires in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
However, Ma’s statement suggests that those who intentionally ignore evacuation orders and stay home to protect their properties are breaking the law.
One lawyer that Global News spoke to said, unequivocally, yes.
“Under the B.C. Emergency Act, either the provincial government or local, municipal governments can declare a state of emergency,” said Vancouver-based defence lawyer Kyla Lee.
“And then once they’ve declared a state of emergency, the Act allows them to have particular powers to either make orders or commandeer property, to compel people to do certain things in order to assist with responding to an emergency.
“There are also provisions of the Emergency Act that make it an offence not to follow through with those orders.”