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March 3 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Enforcement Tools & Strategies in an Anti-Government Environment
Environmental Health Officers typically use an education-first approach to achieve compliance with public health legislation. This facilitates operator buy-in and sets a strong foundation for a productive working relationship. However, there will always be instances where action beyond education is required. This session will discuss the use of a injunction under the BC Public Health Act to achieve compliance with a Public Health Act order. Specifically, it will look at the events that led up to the injunction application, options that were considered, the process used to obtain the injunction, and the ultimate outcome. It will also discuss key learnings from this process as well as considerations for future enforcement work.
Jessy Bhatti has been an EHO for almost 16 years now with Interior Health. Throughout his career, he has worked in almost all our core programs and multiple specialized roles. Jessy is currently the Team Leader for the Thompson, Cariboo, Shuswap area. Additionally, Jessy does some teaching at Thompson Rivers University. Jessy teaches a course for prospective water and wastewater operators focusing on environmental legislation.
Chris Russell has been an EHO for 18 years now with Interior Health. Chris has experience in a number of different programs and is currently the Team Leader for the South Okanagan and North Okanagan. Chris has been involved in many enforcement files, including significant ones during the COVID pandemic.