Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

BC Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko Introduces Mental Health Amendment Act to Prevent Further Tragedies


"As the provincial government considers expanding involuntary care, the Mental Health Amendment Act of 2025 provides a practical and compassionate improvement to mental health assessments with enhanced communication while respecting the rights of individuals and their families.” ~~   Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety 


Today, Elenore Sturko, Conservative MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, introduced the Mental Health Amendment Act of 2025 in the Legislative Assembly of BC. This Bill will strengthen communication between healthcare providers and the close relatives of individuals who are taken to hospitals during mental health crises.

MLA Sturko’s proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act require physicians and nurse practitioners to consult with a near relative, or the individual who provided information leading to an apprehension, before certifying a person under the Act.

Additionally, it requires hospitals provide notice to a near relative before discharging patients and informs them if patients withdraw consent for information sharing.

“Families play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones during mental health crises, yet they are often denied the opportunity to share valuable insight into the health of their loved one,” said MLA Sturko. “This Bill ensures that healthcare providers receive important contextual information that can improve care decisions, prevent suicide and self-harm, and ultimately protect public safety.”

The need for legislative change was underscored by a recent violent incident in Surrey, where a man in drug-induced psychosis committed two home invasions, assaulted a senior, and later attacked a police officer at the Peace Arch Hospital.

Days after the event, a close relative of the suspect contacted MLA Sturko’s office, stating they had crucial information about the individual's escalating mental health crisis… Information that was never sought by police or medical professionals. The Mental Health Amendment Act of 2025 would necessitate such information sharing to prevent further tragedies.

Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad expressed strong support for the Bill: “This is a critical step towards ensuring mental health care decisions are made with the best available information. It is time for the provincial government to support common-sense changes that save British Columbian lives and protect the public. I urge all members of the Legislative Assembly to support this Bill and take meaningful action to address BC’s growing mental health crisis.” 

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Your government has a gambling problem (Troy Media)

Provinces call it “revenue,” but it looks a lot like exploitation of the marginalized The odds of winning Lotto Max are about 1 in 33 million. You’re statistically more likely to be struck by lightning than to win it. But your government is betting that statistics won’t hold you back; they’re counting on it. Across Canada, provincial governments not only regulate gambling, they also maintain a monopoly on lottery and gaming by owning and operating the entire legal market. That means every scratch card is government-issued, gambling odds are government-set, casino ads are government-funded and lottery billboards are government-paid. And these are not incidental government activities. They generate significant revenues that governments have powerful incentives to expand, not constrain. It would be one thing for our governments to encourage us to engage in healthy activities. We can quibble about whether the government should be trying to convince us to be more active or eat more vegetabl...
Post a Comment
Read more

US Tribes Using DRIPA to Expand Influence in British Columbia

The BC Conservatives are sounding the alarm after receiving multiple filings in the BC Supreme Court in which U.S.-based Indigenous tribes are relying on DRIPA, UNDRIP, and the Interpretation Act to assert greater recognition of Aboriginal rights and direct involvement in British Columbia affairs. “This is a clear and growing sovereignty crisis,” said Scott McInnis, Critic for Indigenous Relations. “The Premier himself has referred to the DRIPA situation as an existential threat to British Columbia, and has said amendments are non‑negotiable. We are now seeing exactly why.” Court cases reveal that American tribes are attempting to leverage DRIPA to gain standing and influence inside BC. “It is becoming increasingly clear that DRIPA is being weaponized in ways never transparently disclosed to British Columbians,” McInnis said. “Allowing U.S. tribes to expand their reach into BC governance is deeply concerning and completely unacceptable.” One notable case, brought by a group of Alaskan ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seniors Waiting Years for Care: New Data Exposes Growing Long-Term Care Crisis in BC

Image Credit: Seniors Advocate BC     “ Eight years. That is not a wait time. That is a system failur e” Seniors in British Columbia are now waiting years, not months, for access to long-term care, according to figures confirmed during Health Estimates this week. Brennan Day, MLA for Courtenay-Comox and Critic for Rural Health and Seniors’ Health, says the numbers paint a clear picture of a system falling behind the needs of a rapidly aging population. “Yesterday, after repeated questioning, the Minister finally confirmed that 7,829 seniors are currently waiting for long-term care in British Columbia,” said Day. “That’s an 11 percent increase in just one year.” The delays are not measured in weeks, they are measured in years. Across the province, average wait times now exceed a year in many regions. In Vancouver Coastal Health, the maximum wait time has reached 2,825 days, nearly eight years. “Eight years,” said Day. “That is not a wait time. That is a system failure.” At...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more