Most Canadians think the government should enforce interprovincial travel restrictions, despite legal barriers that at least one B.C. premier says makes such rules impossible.
Eighty per cent of Canadians vote in favour of a ban, according to a new online new Research Co. poll which surveyed 1,000 Canadian adults.
Premier John Horgan struck down the idea in B.C. last week, citing issues of legality.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 prevent people from travelling to British Columbia,鈥� Horgan said in a statement.
鈥淲e can impose restrictions on people travelling for non-essential purposes if they are causing harm to the health and safety of British Columbians. Much of current interprovincial travel is work related and therefore cannot be restricted.鈥�
RELATED: Interprovincial travel restrictions a no-go, Horgan says after reviewing legal options
The news came after the premier took part in meetings with other provincial and federal leaders.
鈥淚 asked my colleagues to carry a message back to their citizens: now is not the time for non-essential travel,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e ask all British Columbians to stay close to home while vaccines become available. And to all Canadians outside of B.C., we look forward to your visit to our beautiful province when we can welcome you safely.鈥�
The decision not to restrict travel hasn鈥檛 seemed to have a dampening on satisfaction with the B.C. NDP鈥檚 handling of the pandemic: 72 per cent of the adults surveyed support the province 鈥� the highest rating compared to other provinces.
Meanwhile, the poll also asked respondents if they plan to take the vaccine when it is their turn. Roughly three-in-four said they will 鈥渄efinitely鈥� or 鈥減robably鈥� be inoculated.
鈥� with files from Ashley Wadhwani
sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca
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