Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Sometimes you need a little bit of distance from a problem to see the situation clearly. Which is why the testimony of BC’s top police chiefs to a federal committee of MPs in Ottawa this week brought into sharp focus the issue of decriminalization — specifically, it’s many, troubling, ongoing, unintended consequences. At the top of that list, the helplessness police feel to respond to the widespread open public drug use ... CLICK HERE for the full story

There is more controversy surrounding the B.C. government’s drug decriminalization pilot program after comments from two of the most senior police officers in the province. Vancouver police’s deputy chief Fiona Wilson told Ottawa’s Standing Committee on Health that police are finding their hands tied when it comes to problematic drug use unless it’s in one of the areas specifically excluded from decriminalization rules. “We now have nine exceptions to the exemption, but the reality is there are still other circumstances where the public have significant concerns about problematic drug use and when that happens, if it’s not in a place that’s an exception to the exemption, there is nothing police can do" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Reality trumps B.C. NDP efforts to control drug-use narrative Opinion: New Democrats run for cover in the face of overwhelming evidence of hard drug use in the hospitals Workers at Victoria supportive housing site given respirators to avoid toxic drug exposure BC Conservative Leader John Rustad said it's "disturbing" that Cool Aid staff have to wear "gas masks because of the dangerous fumes in the environment"

The fate of the provincial government’s restrictions on public drug use will be decided through a constitutional challenge, after an unsuccessful attempt to appeal an injunction against the legislation. The BC Court of Appeal on Friday denied a bid from Crown prosecutors to appeal a December decision by the BC Supreme Court that imposed a three-month injunction on Bill 34 on the grounds that the law would cause “irreparable harm.” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he’s disappointed with the court’s decision. Premier David Eby said it’s common sense that if the government can regulate alcohol and tobacco, “surely we can put rules in place in relation to hard drugs". . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

Government’s messaging over public drug-use legislation has completely reversed as it attempts to co-opt language of Opposition It wasn’t even a year ago that Opposition politicians stood in BC’s legislature with a simple question: Why is it illegal to drink in a park, but people can use hard drugs there without consequences? CLICK HERE for the full story

For an NDP government that was looking to take a public stand against rising rates of drug-related disorder, the “playground” amendment was arguably among the least controversial things they could have done ... ... According to the official text of the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, police were officially discouraged from arresting violators, and if anyone was found using drugs in child-centric areas, officers were instructed to “direct” them elsewhere. But in an injunction issued just before the end of 2023, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that even this most delicate check against public drug use was a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Advocates of drug users staged a rally in Vancouver Wednesday, raising concerns that new legislation targeting open drug use will further stigmatize people with addictions. The provincial government is expected to unveil legislation Thursday to expand the restrictions on possession or use of illicit drugs in key public spaces, such as beaches and community centres ...   CLICK HERE for the full story