B.C. police and enforcement officers will start issuing $2,000 tickets for price gouging and reselling essential supplies during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The province’s minister of public safety and solicitor general says that the measures are effective immediately under the provincial state of emergency through powers under the Emergency Program Act. Mike Farnworth, who made the announcement during a Sunday morning press conference, says Consumer Protection BC has already received more than 800 complaints about these types of practices. He says all these complaints will be investigated. Farnworth says tickets will also be issued as required to anyone who exceeds the quantity limits on the sale of specified items. Additionally, anyone who does not comply with requirements for lodging operators to provide accommodation as requested by the province to serve as self-isolation facilities or support essential workers may be ticketed.
