Latest Updates for British Columbia
COVID-19 Bulletin #15 | May 26, 2020
NGCOA Canada continues to monitor for new announcements from the British Columbia Government and have received the following items to update you on:
Application for Temporary Expansion to
Service Area Now Available
To support businesses in their re-opening efforts and to support physical distancing requirements, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) will now permit food-primary, liquor-primary, and manufacturer licensees to apply through a simplified online process to temporarily expand their service areas until October 31, 2020.
 
There are no fees associated with the temporary expansion and there is an expedited approval process in place for application processing.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Temporary authorizations expand a licensed service area’s footprint only and does not permit an increase in overall occupancy.
Sharing of Power Carts | WorkSafeBC Protocols
for Sports and Recreation
There has been a lot of confusion on whether golfers who do not reside in the same household can share a golf cart. After the release of the Public Health Order (PHO) for Food Service Establishments and Liquor Services ; many golf courses are interpreting that golfers may share a cart if they are being permitted to dine together as is stated on page 4 of the Public Health Order:
1. If you are the holder of a Liquor Primary Club Licence, or a Liquor Primary License related to the practice and playing area of a golf course you may provide services, including standing and seated service, subject to the following:

a. patrons must be able to maintain a distance of two metres from one another, unless they are in the same party , and from staff;
If your course is considering interpreting the PHO for Food Service Establishments and Liquor Services , please consider the following items:  
WorksafeBC may still provide protocols in the coming days which may reference Power carts for customers and staff.
 
WorkSafeBC’s advice is to always maintain physical distancing of 6 feet for staff members; this includes staff at your golf operation as well as staff hosting clients or co-workers.
 
Not all golfers may be comfortable dining together which means they may also prefer not to share a power cart and you are encouraged to continue offering this option (single golfer per power cart rental).
It is important to note that the NGCOA Canada is simply communicating what we are hearing from members with respect to this PHO since it was released and it is the individual operators decision on how they want to interpret the order.
 
NGCOA Canada has been closely monitoring the various protocols that have been posted by WorkSafeBC and although notice was sent that information for Sports and Recreation facilities would be released after the long weekend, there is still nothing new to report from WorkSafeBC. We will continue to monitor and will advise when and if anything new is posted relating to golf and if there is further clarification needed, we will address with Provincial Health Officials.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me at ebeck@ngcoa.ca should you have any questions.
 
Sincerely,

Erica Beck, Regional Director
NGCOA Canada - British Columbia
778-726-1200