
A Squamish citizen has started a petition to urge the province to restrict the Sea to Sky Highway to just local traffic—at least on the weekends.
Shawn Gagnon started the petition yesterday and it has already accumulated more than 1,000 signatures.
Gagnon’s petition calls upon the province to restrict highway use to local traffic only on the weekends, and especially for this long weekend.
Gagnon says he knows the local governments are having a dialogue with the province on how to reduce visitors to Squamish as well as other Sea to Sky communities.
“I’m hoping if enough people sign, it might provide the municipality with some leverage to persuade the province to enact limitations on who can access the area like during the 2010 Olympics,” he said.
Gagnon said all local traffic were asked to get a permit to display in the dashboard window during the Olympics.
“They’ve been able to do it before in the past for something less dire so why not again? Especially if the government is going to use 100 billion of taxpayer money to ensure people stay home,” he said.
Squamish citizens are bracing for a sunny long weekend with mounting dread, as visitors continue to ignore advice to stay home and away from Squamish.
A few weeks ago, District of Squamish appealed to visitors to not come to Squamish, but the appeal went unheard, with visitors thronging the Squamish Valley, trails and beach areas with little regard for social distancing.
In fact, the district says there was mid-summer level visitations in Squamish in the last weeks.
Yesterday, the district and other communities in the SLRD again issued an appeal, asking for people to not visit the Sea to Sky area.
“This collective plea is unprecedented in Sea-to-Sky country as we join together to ask people to stay home and not visit us right now,” said Squamish Mayor, Karen Elliott.
Chris Bowers says
I am very disappointed to hear this in fact I find it completely divisive and will likely cause more harm then good. I get it… If we all lived in Squamish we may feel the same way, but a proposal for a road closure is nearly an act of war and it will come with some negative drawbacks that I think most residents have not considered. It is also bordering a removal of our civil liberties, just sayin. Closing the highway to satisfy fears that “Vancouverites” may bring Covid to Squamish is completely naive, senseless and narrow minded and in a round about way, it’s completely selfish and entitled. Covid-19 does not differentiate between tourist and essential worker. It’s already in Squamish and could possibly spread further by asymptomatic locals who perhaps gassed up at our nearly 90 cent gas days prior, just saying. This is the new reality of our Covid world. The enormous amount of hypocrisy I am witnessing from Squamish (Sea to sky corridor) locals between social media and commentary online is uncanny. If the rolls were reversed how many of you would challenge this argument. Is that #stayhome you say? Well, I frankly am disgusted by how many Squamish residents are choosing to ignore those “suggested” measures. They will post on social media their biking adventures, campfires, bbq’s and hikes all from their “backyard” with a high degree of smugness no doubt, wait…. they’ve already done that. Look at me …. “#socialdistancing”. It sure must be nice to have all that space to yourselves. That’s what this is really about. Not social distancing. Not obeying health orders. It’s about enjoying a little peace and quiet right at home in “your” backyard all under the guise of #stayhome, isn’t?. It’s about “we want it for ourselves” and that my Squamish locals, is entitlement. The message should not be, “Stay away, Covididiots”, it should be “Please if you must visit, do not shop, stop, or gas up, kindly”. I am immunocompromised and am currently on a life long monthly injection which hinders my immune system greatly. Life in the city currently comes with all sorts of baggage for a person in my position, but I’m not alone. I can certainly respect the enforcement of social distancing measures and removal of the ability to access parks and recreation for ALL but, as a former long term resident of the corridor and frequent visitor of Squamish, I am greatly disappointed in what I hear and see of the people of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. I can tell you as a first hand witness, the majority of Vancouverites adhere to the warnings and are perhaps better at social distancing then some of you Sea to sky corridor residents based on what I’ve seen first hand. Sure, the fiasco up the Squamish Valley is outright irresponsible and negligent especially considering most of these visitors likely stopped and shopped in Squamish before heading off and on that note, I condemn them for that and you would of course agree. But should they not be entitled to the same land and freedom as you will likely indulge in this coming long weekend with your family and friends, all at the supposed safe two meter distance? Let’s be honest with ourselves Squamish and Co. Can you really #stayhome? I reckon not.
Stacey Williams says
Its really no different than what BC ferries has put in place, same highway
I think everyine should just stay at home, so we can go out later.
Christopher Coombs says
Where’s the petition to sign
Braidin L. says
I don’t stop to fuel up , get food, coffee etc in Squamish. I drive straight from my garage into the backcountry, where I fish alone. I don’t encounter or come close to people. Stop painting all visitors as infected , when we are not.