As armed forces personnel prepare to move into Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, Ottawa and Victoria say B.C. has yet to ask for help from the military.
However, Minister of Public Safety and Attorney General Mike Farnworth on Wednesday (April 22) released an updated ministerial order adding armed forces to the list of essential services which are excluded from liability under the current health emergency.
Department of National Defence and employees, the Canadian Armed Forces and personnel, their contractors and operations and services that support the Canadian Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary were all added to liability exemptions.
It’s an update of a liability exclusion order issued April 2, which made no mention of the military.
“The essential services list and liability orders can be updated as new information is available,” a statement from B.C.’s COVID-19 Joint Information Centre said. “No requests for assistance have been made by the Province of B.C. for support from the Armed Forces in relation to COVID-19.
Quebec and Ontario premiers François Legault and Doug Ford Wednesday appealed to Ottawa on Wednesday for military personnel to assist with virus outbreaks in long-term care homes. Such facilities have emerged across as particularly fatal sites during the pandemic.
The Department of National Defense said 130 military members are now at five Montreal-area long-term care facilities.
In Ontario, 516 residents have died, while more than 2,000 others have tested positive.
As of Thursday in B.C., there were 347 (217 patients and 130 staff) cases in long-term care, acute care or assisted-living facilities.
Twenty long-term care and assisted-living homes are currently affected in B.C.
There have been 94 COVID-19-related deaths in the province.
Canadian Ranger patrols have been tasked to assist northern communities Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called care home deaths a tragedy.
“This is unacceptable,” he said. “We can do better. We are failing our parents, our grandparents, our elders.”
He said the military request would be met.
“This is not a long-term solution,” he said. “In Canada, we should not have soldiers taking care of seniors.”
He said COVID-19 has highlighted problems in how elders are protected.
