By Lyonel Doherty

Oliver’s bylaw officer can’t complain about a lack of COVID-19 compliance during his rounds.

Wayne Belleville has been visiting local businesses to ensure compliance with public health orders relating to the pandemic.

This includes ensuring that personal service establishments such as hairdressers, beauty salons and massage therapists have closed. And that restaurants are only providing take-out services (along with social distancing).

Randy Houle, the Town’s director of development services, reported that businesses have all closed as required. He also noted that businesses that are permitted to remain open are going “above and beyond” ensuring that their customers are safe.

“He (Belleville) has been very impressed with the buy-in of the businesses and the public in general to protect everyone’s health,” Houle said.

“The restaurants have put their chairs up to ensure that people are not able to eat in.”

Houle said some enterprises such as the hardware store and auto parts store have reported an uptick in business during the pandemic.

“Mainly for the fact that people have more time to get work done around the house these days.”

Of course, as expected, other businesses have reported losses, Houle said.

He noted that Belleville will
continue to visit businesses on a weekly basis, while educating the public about the importance of social distancing.
Houle said Belleville is not able to issue any fines, only warnings.

“If we see any ongoing contraventions to the public health orders then we are to forward that information to the medical health officers with Interior Health. So far, we have seen no contraventions,” Houle said.
Under the Public Health Act, the B.C. government has issued new guidelines to support compliance with orders on business closures and gatherings.

“Local governments are key partners in ensuring the provincial health officer’s orders are obeyed so people in our communities can stay healthy,” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

Bylaw enforcement officers do not have the ability to issue a fine or detain an individual as a result of a contravention.