The Premier says it will likely be next week before more restrictions are eased as the province continues to recover from COVID-19 economic slowdowns.

John Horgan says he is waiting for new modelling numbers from Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, which is expected to come on Tuesday.

“I’m very optimistic that the summer is just upon us and I want to do everything I can working with public health of course, and Dr. Henry to make sure we are not putting anybody at risk,” he said.

“But I’m hopeful that based on the numbers we’ve seen over the past number of weeks that we’ll be in a position to move to Phase Three sometime next week.”

Horgan teased the move to Phase 3 while announcing that the B.C. government is looking for feedback from residents on how the $1.5 billion set aside for recovery should be spent.

In addition to an easing on travel restrictions, phase three of the reopening plan includes film and television productions, movie theatres, spas, hotels, resorts, and overnight camping in parks. Earlier this week, Henry says she was pleased with the results of Phase Two as B.C. reopened schools and some businesses, including restaurants and hair salons.

Horgan says when the province moves to Phase 3, he is hoping to encourage people from across Canada to visit British Columbia.

“I’m looking at making bookings myself so I’m optimistic that British Columbians have worked hard to flatten the curve,” Horgan said. “We’re hopeful that the modelling that we see next week will allow us to lift internal travel restrictions, and when I say internal, that means within Canada.”

“Dr. Henry and I have been abundantly clear that Canadians have the right to travel within our country. We have never proposed obstacles between Yukon Territory, Alberta, and British Columbia.”

And he also stressed that it important to follow all of the safety practices because there are new are still new COVID-19 cases being detected in B.C., especially in the Lower Mainland.