Ministry of Health Presentation Confirms Eby’s Taxpayer-Funded Safe Supply is Trafficked Provincially, Nationally, and Internationally

A leaked presentation obtained by the Conservative Caucus of British Columbia (BC) confirms a worst-case scenario in David Eby’s dangerous “safe supply” experiment: Taxpayer-funded "safe supply" drugs are flooding the streets, enriching organized crime,  in some cases with diversion fraudulently facilitated by pharmacies and medical professionals.

The presentation, reported to have been delivered to law enforcement in British Columbia by the provincial Ministry of Health, states that "a significant portion of the opioids being freely prescribed by doctors & pharmacists in BC are not being consumed by their intended recipients" and that "prescribed alternatives are trafficked provincially, nationally and internationally."

"British Columbia was singled out as a source of illegal opioid trafficking by the American President,” said Elenore Sturko, Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety. “Canada now has a 30-day reprieve from US tariffs to address border security and drug trafficking. David Eby must immediately stop his taxpayer-funded drug trafficking that is fueling fentanyl use, killing people, and enriching organized crime.”

For years, David Eby, his Ministers, and provincial health officials have consistently downplayed the quantity of “safe supply” prescribed in BC. However, the presentation attached reveals the number of opioids prescribed for “safe supply” has exponentially increased from just over half a million pills in the first 6 months of the program in 2020, to more than 20,000,000 opioid pills and Fentanyl patches between 2022 and 2024.

The Ministry of Health presentation also highlights the NDP Government’s awareness that pharmacy incentives are being offered to doctors, housing, and medical professionals. This has led to the diversion of “safe supply” and police investigations with 60-plus pharmacies alleged to be of concern.

“Since I raised this issue in early 2023, David Eby, his ministers, and the Public Health Officer have denied and downplayed the extent of “safe supply” diversion,” Sturko said. “There is now no doubt that the NDP Government is responsible for fueling addiction, deaths, enriching organized crime, and facilitating international drug trafficking.”

“While opposition members were raising concerns about diverted “safe supply”, Bonnie Henry was calling for its expansion, and for drugs like fentanyl, crack cocaine, and meth to be legalized and sold in retail stores,” BC Conservative Leader, John Rustad said.

MLA Sturko adds, “this is a betrayal of public trust: David Eby must fire Bonnie Henry immediately, and launch a full public inquiry to investigate this dereliction of duty.”