Cash Grab or Public Safety? It's Time to Ask Questions About B.C.'s Holiday Weekend Crackdown
Over $100,000 in fines were issued during the B.C. Day long weekend — nearly $30,000 for campfire violations alone, and over 800 traffic tickets handed out. All while thousands were gathering for the Shambhala Music Festival, or enjoying what was supposed to be a peaceful weekend outdoors.
Was this really about public safety, or was it a targeted money grab?
📣 If You Got a Fine — You Have Rights
If you were fined during this long weekend, don’t just pay up and stay silent. You can file a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to find out:
- Who ordered the enforcement operation
- How many officers or staff were involved
- Whether there were enforcement quotas or revenue expectations
- Where the money goes
👉 How to file an FOI in B.C.
🚨 This Is Bigger Than One Weekend
I personally was fined $3,400 at the Vancouver Airport when I couldn’t afford a hotel stay during a difficult time. That fine crushed me financially — and it taught me how unforgiving the system is, especially to people already struggling.
Now I’m seeing it happen again — but on a mass scale. Young people being punished at festivals. Campers being fined instead of educated. People trying to enjoy nature being slapped with fees instead of receiving guidance.
❗We Must Ask:
- Was this enforcement about fire safety — or about revenue?
- Were warnings and fire bans communicated clearly to all communities and festival attendees?
- Why target peaceful gatherings while corporations and polluters go unchecked?
- Who profited from these fines — and who gave the orders?
💬 Let’s Get to the Bottom of This
If you or someone you know got a fine — speak up. File that FOI. Share your story. Ask your MLA what’s going on. Demand receipts, transparency, and justice.
Because if we don’t stand up now, this will just keep happening — again and again.
#CashGrabBC #ShambhalaFines #BCFireBanFines #FOIRequest #YouthRights #AccountabilityBC #FightTheFines
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