Most travel to northern Manitoba has been blocked off by an order from the provincial government in an attempt to keep remote, potentially vulnerable communities from COVID-19.
First announced April 16, the order went into effect April 17 and is slated to stay in effect until 12:01 a.m. May 1, pending a cancellation or extension.
The order applies to areas of Manitoba north of the 53rd parallel, including Flin Flon, as well as remote communities not connected to the provincial year-round all-weather road system below the latitude. Northern residents who are currently outside the region will be allowed to travel back home under the order or leave and return for necessary services, including medical care.
Health care providers or workers in essential industries are exempt from the order and can travel north. Northern residents are able to move within the region with no additional restrictions. The new order does not apply to people who already live in northern Manitoba or a remote community or a person travelling into such a community to move permanently, to provide services for either the provincial or federal government or for a Crown corporation.
Questions remain about how the order may be enforced on the ground. No checkpoints have opened as of April 20 on either of Manitoba’s main road arteries to the north, Highway 6 or Highway 10. The 53rd parallel runs about 20 kilometres south of Grand Rapids along Highway 6 and just south of Overflowing River on Highway 10.
“All options are on the table for consideration regarding checkpoints,” read a statement to The Reminder from a provincial government spokesperson.
While enforcement of the restrictions is up in the air, people caught breaking the travel order could face fines for violating emergency orders.
“The province has made amendments to the Preset Fines and Offence Descriptions Regulation under the Provincial Offences Act to allow enforcement officers to issue tickets with set fines for failure to comply with the emergency orders,” said a provincial spokesperson.
“Effective immediately, fine amounts will be set at $486 for tickets issued to individuals, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $2,542 for tickets issued to corporations.”
Businesses providing air, road, water or rail service for passengers will be allowed to operate under the order. Mahikhan Bus Lines, which operates passenger bus services to and from Flin Flon, has announced a suspension of all passenger services until reopening May 4. Calm Air is still operating passenger flights in and out of Flin Flon Airport three times a week.
The order will not apply to asymptomatic people working in goods and services transport to the north, health care, first responders, Canadian Armed Forces members, aircraft and train workers or for Manitoba residents who need to travel outside the province regularly for work provided they restrict their time and use of resources outside the province to a minimum.
Mining companies are also protected as essential workers during the outbreak under Schedule 38 of the order, with construction being covered as essential service under Schedule 28.
With camping, fishing and summer tourism seasons around the corner, no announcement regarding funding or credits for tourism-based businesses has been made by the province. The spokesperson said any such package would be covered by the provincial ministry of Economic Development and Training.
The idea of blocking travel to the north is not a new one. During a media briefing March 26, Manitoba chief medical health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said there was "no reason for us to limit intra-provincial travel with the exception of remote, isolated communities.”
“The extra measures are being taken to protect a region where the spread of the virus could seriously affect a larger number of people who may be at higher risk of contracting the virus,” said the spokesperson.
