Since the BC NDP declared an opioid crisis in 2016, deaths have surged to over 14,000 individuals, impacting communities across the province.
The NDP government, through Provincial Health Authorities, BC Housing and their operators, adopted a “Harm Reduction” strategy, expanding government-supplied drugs, consumption sites, and low-barrier congregate housing. Unfortunately, this approach has failed, leading to rising homelessness, untreated mental health issues, increasing overdose deaths and the decline in public safety for communities. This approach has also incurred significant financial costs, with government funding totalling several billion dollars.
The Government’s policies on expanding low-barrier housing & consumption sites ignore community feedback and research. Legislation like Bill 18, which removes public hearings, and Bill 26, which mutes legal action against the West 7th & Arbutus site, are two examples of attempts to further silence opposition. Recently, when the Richmond community opposed the Cambie proposed site, the government chose to "pause" discussions until after the election, avoiding engagement before voting.
Moreover, community objections are often misrepresented. Many are intentionally positioned by the Government as anti-housing, anti-addiction/mental health and anti-poverty/social justice. In actual fact, objecting communities have been asking for solutions that ensure public safety and support those in need. Proposed sites are frequently located near schools and parks, with insufficient consideration of their impact and little discussion on how individuals can reintegrate into society.
In the recent Leaders Debate on CKNW on October 2nd, David Eby acknowledged that Supportive Housing has not addressed the needs of community safety and outcomes for those in need of help.
The lack of meaningful dialogue about effective solutions is unacceptable.
We urge all candidates to prioritize the halting and removal of pending and current low-barrier congregate housing and consumption sites and emphasize recovery, social reintegration and community and family safety. We also call for policies to track government investments to ensure they are delivering positive outcomes for those in need and to move beyond the current harmful practices.
We ask for parties and candidates to commit and state their positions on the following key initiatives to enhance resources for addiction/mental health treatment and homelessness and keep communities safe and liveable:
We ask all candidates & parties in the October 19th Provincial Election to declare their position on this Call for Change via their Campaign Communication and Social Media Channels, and we ask registered parties to define their strategy in this area clearly for review by the voting public.
Community groups across the province will be available on October 10th to engage with media and candidates in their respective locations, to expand on their experiences further, and to ask questions relevant to their respective locations. The list below represents the primary groups across the Province who have put their voice to this Call for Change.
“We recognize the need for social and supportive housing. However, the 7th/Arbutus proposal fails our community, particularly with a nearby elementary school and women's recovery home. The lack of transparency and engagement from the City and BC government is alarming; we urge candidates to prioritize public safety, community feedback and support for those in need while also holding the government accountable for positive outcomes for all.”
“Keep Richmond Safe supports housing for those experiencing homelessness and treatment for those suffering from addiction and mental health needs but opposes models that risk harming the community. While we support housing for vulnerable populations, the low-barrier model for CPH lacks necessary oversight. Without proper regulations, it could endanger families and children. A balanced approach is needed to ensure both housing and safety.”
“We support care and services for people struggling with homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. However, the model presented for this site has proven to be a failure, both for the people it's designed to help and for the communities they are forced upon. Also, the lack of transparency, consultation, and the outright dismissal of community concerns during the Planning and Public Hearing Process is very disturbing and concerning for the future of public debate. We are calling for change on all fronts.”
“The time for change is now, and the situation at Stephen Village is a clear example of why action is urgently needed. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing issues of drug activity, violence, and public safety risks that have plagued this community. Despite these growing concerns, the mayor and city council have remained silent, leaving our neighbourhoods vulnerable. We are calling on both the current & future government to take decisive action to protect our communities. It’s a matter of public safety that demands immediate attention.”
“Parents want to see neighbourhoods calmed and leaders elected to prioritize the next generation with planning and policies that champion the health and safety of kids first. A focus on children’s safety ultimately helps to safeguard everyone.”
“Our priority is the safety of our vulnerable children and the seniors and people with disabilities who live next door to the proposed site at 2155 Dowler Place. Knowingly and deliberately moving an unregulated, unofficial drug consumption site and hub for unhoused individuals with complex addiction and mental health issues into a quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood is reckless and endangers the safety of families.”
“We believe the community should have input into the type of supportive housing that goes into our neighbourhoods and that public consultation on supportive housing should be mandatory.”
自 2016 年卑詩省新民主黨宣布鴉片類藥物危機以來，死亡人數已激增至 14,000 多人，影響到全省各個社區。
新民主黨政府通過省衛生當局、卑詩省住房局及其運營商採取了“減少危害”戰略，擴大了政府提供的藥物、吸食場所和低門檻群居住房。不幸的是，這種方法失敗了，導致無家可歸者人數上升、心理健康問題未得到治療、吸毒過量死亡人數增加以及社區公共安全下降。這種方法還產生了巨大的財政成本，政府撥款總額達數十億美元。
政府擴大低門檻住房和吸食場所的政策忽視了社區的反饋和研究。諸如取消公眾聽證會的 18 號法案和禁止對第 7 街和 Arbutus 街工地採取法律行動的 26 號法案等立法，都是試圖進一步壓制反對意見的兩個例子。最近，當列治文社區反對 Cambie 擬議地點時，政府選擇“暫停”討論，延至選舉後再行討論，避免在選舉前參與。
此外，社區的異議經常被歪曲。許多人被政府定位為反住房、反戒癮/心理健康和反貧困/社會正義。事實上，反對的社區一直在尋求確保公共安全和支持有需要的人的解決方案。擬議的地點經常位於學校和公園附近，對其影響考慮不周，也很少討論如何讓個人重新融入社會。
在 10 月 2 日 CKNW 最近的領袖辯論中，David Eby 承認，支持性住房沒有解決社區安全和幫助有需要的人的需求。
缺乏關於有效解決方案的任何對話是不可接受的。
我們敦促所有候選人優先考慮停止和移除待建和現有的低門檻群居住房和吸食場所，並強調康復、社會融合以及社區和家庭安全。我們還呼籲制定政策來追踪政府投資，以確保它們為有需要的人帶來積極成果，並超越目前有害的做法。
我們要求各黨派和候選人就以下主要舉措作出承諾並表明自己的立場，以加強戒癮/心理健康治療和無家可歸的資源，並保持社區安全和宜居：
我們要求所有候選人及政黨在10月19日的省選中，透過他們的競選通訊和社交媒體渠道表態，並要求註冊政黨明確闡述其策略，供選民審閱。
全省各地的社區團體將於10月10日隨時接受媒體及候選人的接觸，進一步闡述他們的經驗，並針對各自的地區提出相關問題。下列名單代表了全省主要支持這項變革呼籲的團體。