Fourth Session, 42nd Parliament

(2023) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Monday, May 1, 2023

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 317

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

Double-decker portables

E. Sturko

M. Dykeman

Mental Health Week

M. Starchuk

B. Banman

Speaker’s Statement

Rules of debate

Private Members’ Statements

Lack of confidence in the administration of

justice

M. Lee

N. Simons

Youth Week

H. Yao

C. Oakes

Private Members’ Motions

Motion 43 — Involuntary treatment for vulnerable

persons

K. Kirkpatrick

A. Singh

T. Halford

S. Chant

D. Davies

B. D’Eith

T. Shypitka

R. Leonard

R. Merrifield

D. Routley

S. Bond

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2023

The House met at 10:02 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: N. Letnick.

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

DOUBLE-DECKER PORTABLES

E. Sturko: I rise in the House today to speak on a critical issue greatly

affecting my constituents in Surrey South and the residents across my

city.

[S. Chandra Herbert in the chair.]

Overcrowded schools in Surrey have become a dire situation leading

to the doubling of portables and a negative impact on the learning

environment for students. Despite having been promised that portables

would be removed, Surrey parents have instead seen more and more

portables on school grounds across the district.

Now they’re hearing their kids in classes may indeed have

double-decker portables. You did hear that correctly. I said

double-decker portables.

Unfortunately, the situation the Surrey school board is currently

contemplating…. When I first heard about double-decker portables, I

actually thought the person was kidding. But, sadly, this is not a joke

for the parents and students of Surrey.

In a letter to the government, Surrey’s school board trustee Terry

Allen said: “We’re at the point now where we’re going to have to start

to consider to stack portables, something that I don’t know if it’s ever

been done.” This is how dire the situation is in Surrey right now.

Parents, teachers, staff and students are all rightfully upset. They

feel ignored, and they feel let down.

But how did we get here? Promises to eliminate portables were

never met. In fact, portables have increased from 273 in 2016 to over

360 today, with the predicted number of portables to be more than 400

within two years. Edgewood Elementary, which only opened in 2021,

currently has seven portables with eight more planning for the coming

months.

[10:05 a.m.]

While portables may always be a necessity in fast-growing

districts, poor foresight has led to an unnecessary increase in the

number of portables. With Surrey being the fastest-growing city in the

province, so too is its school district. The schools saw more than 2,200

new students enter what are already overcrowded class­rooms in

Surrey. The rate of building new schools and classrooms is not matching

the anticipated growth of the district, especially with new major

transportation infrastructure projects set to come in the future,

leaving Surrey schools to play catch-up.

Currently as many as 10,000 of the 78,000 students in the Surrey

school district will be in portables in the next year when school starts

in September. This problem will only continue to get worse as the number

of new students enrolling only grows higher.

Just a couple of years ago the government made a commitment to

expand the SkyTrain from Surrey to Langley, and it goes right through

Fleetwood, the site of proposed double-decker portables. The school

district should have been supported in shoring up plans to make sure

that there would be adequate school spaces to go along with that

development. The current overcrowding projections don’t even take into

account the increased density which will be built along the transit

line.

Overcrowded schools and the expansion of portables come with

negative implications for students’ learning environment. The funds for

building portables come directly from the schools’ operating budget. The

Surrey school district has already spent $4.8 million buying or

redeploying portables this year alone and has spent more than $17.5

million in the last five years. This is money taken directly from the

fund that’s paying for laptops, hot lunch programs, after-school

programs and staff.

In addition, increasing portables creates their own learning and

bathrooms, water fountains and lunch programs, students must leave

portables to enter the main building. This can cause classroom

disruptions, force children to miss class and take away from learning.

Leaving the portables to access the school also presents safety issues

during periods of extreme weather.

Parents of children with classes in portables have reported

feelings of exclusion faced by these students: feeling like outsiders in

their own schools, stuck in isolation from the rest of their peers. My

kids are currently in elementary school in Surrey and have had

experience learning in portables, so I’ve heard about the struggles that

students face having to leave the classroom to go outdoors by themselves

to access other services. That’s not, for me as a parent, something that

I’m comfortable with as being a regular part of the school

day.

If students in portables face challenges to learning, imagine the

unintended consequences of double-decker portables. How are they

accessible to all students? How do they access washrooms? What about

noise disruptions? Families and students are feeling let down. It’s

beyond time for the overcrowding issue in Surrey schools to be

addressed.

There are students in Surrey who have only ever had their class in

portables. It’s not an ideal learning environment. Portables cannot

become a permanent solution, and double-decker portables cannot become

the norm.

M. Dykeman: Thank you to the member opposite for bringing forward this very

important topic. It’s a topic that I quite enjoy discussing — anything

related to education, with my past experience with a school

board.

As I was listening to the member opposite, I found that there was

quite a bit that we could agree on. For instance, poor foresight

definitely did get us here — absolutely. I do appreciate the opportunity

to talk about the investments our government is making, but also: how

did we get here? Those of us who had the misfortune of living through a

decade of the most catastrophic funding decisions ever made can answer

that. We remember it every day. It’s like something you can’t

unsee.

I’d like to mention to the members in here today…. If they’d like

to learn a little bit about what happened, there’s a full Auditor

General’s report that talks about it. It’s actually a document that, at

least, the opposite side of the House should be aware of: the release of

assets for economic generation. It certainly lays out the plan which led

to the fire sale of 164 B.C. schools, hospitals and industrial lots that

were sold. What was really unfortunate about it….

Interjection.

[10:10 a.m.]

M. Dykeman: I’m just providing some context, because of course, this time

isn’t partisan, but it’s important for us to understand the

history.

It is interesting. As a new MLA, I’d like to just make an

observation. It’s amusing in some ways that it becomes partisan, the

message. When somebody doesn’t like it, then it’s partisan, but if you

like the message, it isn’t. It’s kind of curious.

That decision to sell 164 lots, many of them schools, led to a

position where school boards were told to sell — not only sell but close

schools and shift around. Those were purely economic decisions, which

maybe at the time seemed to be great, but they led to having to acquire

those lots again at today’s market value. So in addition to being sold

below value — like $400 million below value, in many cases — you’re

facing having to reacquire it.

Talking about Surrey, families want to live in Surrey. They want

to live in Langley. They want to live in lots of the fast-growing

places. This is a very fast-growing community. In the last two years,

250,000 people moved to B.C., and that means that Surrey has seen record

growth as more families chose to make that community their

home.

The land sold in those fast-growing communities would have been

there and would have been available to have schools built on. Instead,

because of those decisions, school boards and the province are

reacquiring land while addressing that fast growing…. That’s something

that any person who’s served on the school board will tell you was just

the most devastating decision ever made.

Kids and families need new and expanded schools, and our

government is working to deliver them. We’ve accelerated investments in

Surrey with half a billion dollars since September 2017, which will

create over 10,000 new student seats, the equivalent of 400 classrooms.

Since 2017, six new schools and ten new school expansions have been

completed for Surrey kids, with more on the way. That’s in comparison to

zero schools and one expansion completed in the previous government’s

last four years.

We will keep building Surrey schools for years to make up for the

years of infrastructure deficits left by the previous government.

Compared to 2016-17, enrolment in Surrey has grown by 6,224, exceeding

district estimates by more than 3,000. Funding per student has been

increased by $2,126, or 24 percent, from $8,920 per student FTE to

$11,046 per student FTE. As a result, operating funding has grown by

$220.6 million.

We have always fully funded the impacts of enrolment growth in

September, on the operating budget. On average, that’s led to an

additional $229.2 million in funding for the district over what they

budgeted for.

Having served as a school board trustee, I am proud of the

investments our government is making. We need to continue to do

more.

E. Sturko: I just want to perhaps start off by correcting the member for

Langley East — information they provided on the record about the number

of new schools announced, projects begun or additions created in Surrey

between the ‘13-14 school year and January 2017. I can count one, two,

three, four, five, six new schools, and then we have one, two, three,

four, five, six, seven, eight additions.

In fact, the previous government actually reduced the number of

portables in school district 36. Wow. I can say that there’s only one

government that actually promised to reduce, to eliminate portables in

school district 36, and that’s the current government.

Deputy Speaker: Member, this is not a partisan time. I believe the Member

understands that.

E. Sturko: I just wanted to make sure, since the member for Langley East was

talking about ensuring that the public understood the history of how we

got here…. I’m just letting people understand the history is

that…

[10:15 a.m.]

Deputy Speaker: Member. Member.

E. Sturko: …the government we currently…

Deputy Speaker: Member.

E. Sturko: …have is a government that actually promised to completely

eliminate….

Deputy Speaker: Member. Member. Enough, Member.

Member, thank you. Your time is up. If you’re going to disregard

the Chair in this way and the rules of this House, we’re going to move

on to the next statement.

I would ask the member to withdraw their statement and to follow

the rules of this House. If the member is going to be partisan, I would

ask the member to withdraw their partisan statement. Otherwise, we’re

going to move along.

The member refuses to withdraw. It’s clear to all members. This

has always been the rule of this House. Monday mornings are private

members’ time. It’s not opposition time. It’s not government time. If

you have a statement that you want to make, you can fight for your

party’s position. You can speak positively in it. But the rules are

clear. We’re not to make negative statements against groups of other

members in this House. We’re not to try and get one-upmanship or

partisanship. Thank you, Members.

If the member wants to finish her statement in a non-partisan way,

I will let her make that statement.

E. Sturko: Thank you, hon. Speaker.

I thank the government member for their concern on the issue, and

I truly hope they’re serious about taking steps to alleviate the

overcrowding in Surrey schools. But actions do speak louder than words,

Mr. Speaker. Families in Surrey were promised an end to portables, yet

all they’re seeing is more and more portables added to their children’s

schools.

Surrey is my home. Surrey is my home, and I drive by these schools

all the time. I drive my kids to school. I walk them to school. We ride

our bikes. Let me tell you there is no more room on school grounds for

portables. More portables means less places for children to play, less

sports fields.

However, despite the words from the government over the years, no

one, including the school boards….

Deputy Speaker: Member. Member.

This is non-partisan time. I’ve given you a few warnings now. If

the member wants to continue, I would ask them to take their words off

of the script and get back into a non-partisan spirit. That is the

spirit of this morning.

E. Sturko: Thank you, Speaker.

Let me just quote school board trustee Terry Allen. He says he’s

feeling hopeful. He recently actually said, though, that eliminating

portables “will never happen in my lifetime.”

Overcrowding of schools and the doubling-up of portables are just

another concern stacked on the residents of Surrey, who are increasingly

feeling let down. Promises of removing portables haven’t been met,

promises of building affordable homes have silently gone away, and crime

is surging on the streets.

Overcrowding in Surrey schools and the increased use of portables

is leading to a reduction in resources and services for students. It’s

negatively affecting their learning environment. Instead of

double-decker portables, we need a forward-thinking plan to build more

schools and more classrooms faster to match the growth of

Surrey.

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

M. Starchuk: Inaugurated by the Canadian Mental Health Association in 1951, May

1 to 7, 2023, marks the 72nd annual Mental Health Week in Canada. The

annual campaign looks to shift attitudes and perceptions about mental

health. Mental Health Week is a social change campaign to educate the

public and shift beliefs and perceptions about mental health.

Mental health is the state of our psychological and emotional

well-being. It encompasses our emotions, feelings of connection,

thoughts and the ability to manage life’s highs and lows. Throughout our

lives, we will all experience periods of positive and negative mental

health. One-third of people in Canada will experience a mental illness

or substance use disorder in their lifetime.

With the right support, people with mental illness or substance

use disorders can and do thrive. Just as we take care of our physical

health, there are many ways that we can help take care of our mental

health.

We’ve been through a lot over the last few years as British

Columbians. The COVID-19 pandemic, confirmation of mass residential

school graves and climate-related emergencies have taken a toll on our

mental health. When people make the brave decision to reach out for

help, it’s vital that the services are there to meet them. The province

is committed in building an integrated system of mental health and

addictions care that people need and that works for everyone.

[10:20 a.m.]

Our government is making historic mental health in­vestments

to continue the expansion of mental health and substance use supports

and better connect people in all areas of the province to culturally

safe and effective care. This includes virtual services that are

available for people who are experiencing anxiety, depression or other

mental health challenges, as well as low- or no-cost community

counselling programs through 49 organizations across British Columbia,

with counsellors that are able to truly meet the people where they’re

at.

Whether it’s through outreach, in-person counselling or virtual

supports, since 2017, the province has been scaling up supports and

providing new ways to access care for people experiencing mental health

challenges. I’d like to highlight some of the programs that our

government supports in the field of mental health.

Wellbeing is an online resource connecting people to mental health

and addiction resources. The B.C. virtual mental health supports website

has low- and no-cost mental health supports, including free and

affordable counselling services.

KUU-US crisis line provides Indigenous people with culturally

safe, 24-7 telephone crisis supports. The Métis crisis line also offers

culturally safe, 24-7 supports for Métis people.

Bounce Back is an evidence-based program designed to help adults

and youth 15 years and older experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate

depression, low mood or stress with or without anxiety.

Here2Talk has counselling and referral line connections for

post-secondary students, with the service Here2talk.ca. Since April

2020, when the program launched Here2Talk, it has supported over 6,500

unique students from 176 institutions. Since April 2020, Here2Talk

services have been accessed 23,600 times, and counsellors have provided

nearly 14,000 mental health interventions at that time and more than

14,000 hours of clinical care.

The Kids Help program provides immediate and caring support

information and, if necessary, referral to a local community or social

service agency.

In Budget 2023, we made a historic $1 billion investment in mental

health and addictions care. This included a $3 million investment as

part of the safer communities action plan to expand integrated mobile

crisis response teams — or the Car programs, as we’ve heard — to more

communities throughout British Columbia. Teams include a police officer

and a health care professional who respond to calls where people are

experiencing a mental health crisis. Teams are able to connect the

person in crisis with the supports and services that they

need.

Foundry offers counselling, peer support, primary care and family

support through virtual voice calls, video and chat. Foundry virtual

services are available provincewide for youth aged 12 to 24 through

their website, the Foundry B.C. mobile app or by calling

1-833-FOUNDRY.

The province is expanding the Foundry network, and currently there

are 14 locations across the province. There are nine new centres

currently in development, including Burns Lake, East Kootenay, Port

Hardy, Sea to Sky, Surrey, Fort St. John, Tri-Cities, Kamloops and the

Sunshine Coast.

On August 31 of 2022, the CRTC announced that Canadians will be

able to call 988 — they can text it or call it, and that will start in

the fall of 2023 — in case they’re in need of immediate mental health

this service will enable greater access to supports, regardless of one’s

geographic location or socioeconomic status, and it will be available

from coast to coast, 24-7, free of charge.

This year’s theme for Mental Health Week is “#mystory.” It invites

people to share and embrace vulnerability and build resilience by

sharing their stories with people they trust. These conversations are

vital, because it reminds us that we’re not alone and that support is

available. If you know someone who is looking for support, please visit

wellbeing.gov.bc.ca or call 310-6789.

Let’s share our stories and support one another. so that more

people can get the help that they need and the help that they

deserve.

[10:25 a.m.]

B. Banman: I truly do thank the member opposite for his remarks. May 1 to 7

is the Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Week, where we

join Canadians in taking the time to reflect, learn and spread awareness

of all issues relating to mental health.

As legislators, we all know the importance of a healthy mind and

its impact on the work we do here in the Legislature. Mental health is

also important in our personal lives, as parents, as siblings, as

grandparents and in the many other roles we fulfil. It’s important for

us to put our actions where our mouth is and to focus on the well-being

of ourselves and each other.

However, we must also recognize Mental Health Week during a very

critical time for our province, as we all know very well, especially for

our constituents back in our home communities. We are currently facing a

mental health crisis, following the damages of the COVID-19 pandemic and

its lasting impacts.

The surge in the cost of living, the lack of housing and the toxic

drug crisis have only worsened the mental health of many British

Columbians. On top of that, families are worried about their loved ones

as crimes worsen. Parents in cities like Surrey are stressed about the

possibility of their children having to learn in overpacked classrooms

and the potential of double-decker portables.

It’s important that this week we take the time to reflect and

think about how to change our approach to help advocate for stronger

mental health supports for all British Columbians. This is a holistic

approach that includes ensuring that the most marginalized people have

the supports they deserve, ensuring that those who need treatment and

recovery options have barrier-free access to them and making sure that

workers, employers and, especially, small businesses, which are the

backbone of our communities, are well protected to thrive and succeed,

building healthy societies for us all.

Mental health issues affect people of all ages, all backgrounds

and all circumstances. They can arise from a variety of causes, such as

stress, trauma, illness and life changes. We must also work to address

the root causes of mental health issues and ensure that all British

Columbians have access to the supports they need. This means investing

in mental health services, promoting mental wellness, and creating safe

and supportive communities where individuals can thrive.

Attention to mental health is needed now more than ever. On behalf

of the B.C. United caucus, I reaffirm our commitment to destigmatize

discussions around mental health and ensure that proper access to the

treatment and the care that people deserve is available, regardless of

whether they can afford it or not.

Mental Health Week is an important reminder that all mental health

is just as important as physical health. It’s time to reflect on the

challenges we face as a society and to come together to create solutions

that work for everyone. Let’s make a commitment to take care of

ourselves and each other and to work towards a future where mental

health is a priority, not a mere afterthought.

Healthy minds equal a healthy British Columbia. This Mental Health

Week I look forward to working together to create a place where this is

a reality.

Lastly, it is okay to say that you are not okay. If you are not

okay, please tell someone. Please reach out. The life you save may very

well be your own.

M. Starchuk: Thank you to the member opposite for his comments.

My story. Several years ago I had the misfortune of losing a

number of family members over a very short time frame. My mother’s

second husband, my father-in-law, my close uncle, my father and my

brother all left this earth too soon and unexpectedly.

I remember the day my battalion chief called me and asked me when

I was coming into work. I had lost track of the days. I began to drive

to Surrey from Campbell River. I explained that I would be in as soon as

I could, but it wasn’t going to happen that day.

[10:30 a.m.]

During that same time frame, there had been a number of traumatic

incidents I had been exposed to, which added to the stressors I was

exposed to. I found myself on the side of the highway, on the way back

to the ferry, just wondering what had happened to me. Missing a day of

work had never happened before. Now I was experiencing a shortness of

breath and chest pains.

I made it home, and I wondered how I got there. I couldn’t recall

my route home. I wondered if all the lights I drove through were green.

I wondered if I was going to be able to report to duty. I couldn’t. My

mental health and physical health wouldn’t let me. I could go on forever

about my signs and symptoms. But the real issue my doctor was treating

me for was an anxiety disorder.

Months later, with the toolbox filled with coping skills, I

returned to work with a different perspective of life and, specifically,

my life. Years later I would add another tool to my toolkit, and that

was through a mindful coach. Kevin gave me the gift of mindfulness,

which I used to complement my well-being each and every day. I do that

today as well.

I didn’t think I’d ever have to use all of these new skills in my

career outside of the fire service, but I did. In 2014, I remember

reading the emails, the texts, receiving phone calls when a former

colleague of my fire department went missing, and a short time later,

they found him deceased. A few months later — similar circumstances with

another colleague who took his life early as well. Both Kevin and Ernie

left behind young families.

I remember how we all scrambled to find a root cause, and I

remember how the shortness of breath and chest pains came back. I

remember how difficult it was to be at those celebrations of life. I

could not get out of my mind how difficult it had to have been for both

of them to decide to end their lives early. But what I remember the most

was the ramping up of mental health resources for those in my fire

department. I remember the biggest hurdle for most of us was the stigma

that came from admitting somebody had a mental health issue.

Seventy-two years later, we now understand more of the issues that

surround the mental health challenges. There’s more work to be done to

break down the barriers of stigma and to provide timely help to those in

need. As the member opposite said, remember it’s okay not to be okay.

Just let somebody know what you’re experiencing.

Let’s share our stories and support one another so that more

people can get the help that they need and deserve. This is just the

beginning. We still have a lot of work in front of us.

Speaker’s Statement

RULES OF DEBATE

Deputy Speaker: To assist members, I just wanted to remind the House of the

spirit, intent, scope of debate and subject matter under private

members’ time, Standing Order 25A. As noted in many Speaker’s decisions

in this House, guidelines do apply to these proceedings —

Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia , fifth edition

at pages 103 and 104.

Of course, practice in this House under Standing Order 25A does

not preclude members from expressing their own views or their party’s

position on a political issue or a matter of policy. However, private

members’ statements are not proceedings for a member to indulge in

partisan attacks or arguments against a group of members in this House.

The weekly hour devoted to these statements is an important opportunity

for private members to make statements on issues of current interest and

on matters of concern to them and their constituents.

A Speaker’s decision in this House dated March 1, 2007, succinctly

noted: “Statements should not reflect negatively on individual members

or groups of members in the House.” I’d ask all members to remember that

in the spirit of the intent of this private members’ hour. Thank

you.

Private Members’ Statements

LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE

ADMINISTRATION OF

JUSTICE

M. Lee: I rise in the House today in view of the concerns of many British

Columbians, including those in my constituency of Vancouver-Langara, to

speak to the lack of confidence in the administration of justice here in

British Columbia. People simply don’t feel safe, and they are worried

about the well-being of their loved ones. They are tired of seeing

repeat violent offenders being caught and released in a never-ending

cycle.

In Vancouver, it has been reported that just a small group of 40

individuals are responsible for 6,385 police files in the last year

alone. This level of crime is completely unprecedented. From random

attacks on transit across British Columbia to increased pressures on

small businesses, crime has never been worse for British

Columbians.

We saw three stabbings on public transit in just one week alone

last month, but it didn’t stop there. Throughout the month, we saw a

surge in transit-related crime, which has naturally left many commuters

feeling unsafe.

Small businesses have been asking for financial relief because

they cannot keep up with the added cost being brought to them due to

vandalism, theft and the need to continuously clean their storefronts

from drug para­phernalia and sometimes even human

feces.

[10:35 a.m.]

British Columbians are fed up with the public safety situation

here in B.C. Just last week, the Enough is Enough rally was held

throughout British Columbia in communities such as Prince George,

Kamloops, Penticton and right here in Victoria in front of this

Legislative Assembly building. People are tired. They want answers, and

they want to feel that as victims, their safety will be protected.

However, the current system continues to prioritize offenders over

victims.

These rallies are only the most recent things to have occurred.

We’ve seen outcries from British Columbians for over a year now. My

colleague from Peace River South pre­sented a petition from over

3,000 residents from Dawson Creek, pleading for the protection of their

families and their livelihoods.

I would say that the data that has been shared, including by my

colleague the member for Abbotsford West with the Attorney General,

simply demonstrates that crime is on the increase under this

government’s watch. We’ve known and cite the February 14, 2023, report

from the Vancouver police department to the Vancouver police board that

says the following: “Serious assaults involving weapons or bodily harm,

level 2, and aggravated assaults involving life-threatening injuries,

level 3, are up 30.1 percent compared to the 2017-2019

average.”

We also know, in another document, the violent crime severity

index in B.C., 2017 to 2021…. That document indicates that in 2017 the

violent crime severity index in B.C. was 74.1, and in 2021, the violent

crime severity index was 95.16. These are the concerns that we see every

day in our province.

We know, of course, that what is as concerning about this is that

we’ve seen the challenges. When we look at what has come forward by the

Attorney General, under her watch, using data that was released just

last week, in a sample size of 425 bail hearings involving a suspect

with a violent history and who breached their pre-existing bail file,

Crown counsel only sought detention orders in 222 cases. This works out

to be only 52 percent of the cases.

British Columbians have the right to expect from their government,

from this Attorney General….

Deputy Speaker: Member, as I just noted, statements should not reflect negatively

on individuals or members of groups in this House. That’s the practice

in this House. If the members don’t like it, they can argue that it

should change, but that is how private members’ time works.

We do have question period, we have bill debate, we have

estimates, and we have committee stage where those kinds of statements

can be made. That is not in keeping in the spirit of this time in this

House.

M. Lee: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m reading from the Crown Counsel Policy Manual , which

is available online to all British Columbians, for the transparency

that’s important by this government and this Attorney General in the

role that she plays and the role that her former predecessor, the

Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Premier. I’m

stating only….

Deputy Speaker: Member. Member, this is not a time to argue with the

Speaker.

M. Lee: Mr. Speaker, I’m only stating the fact, though.

Deputy Speaker: Member, members can state facts. They cannot target members

individually or as groups. That’s the order. That’s the way this time

works.

M. Lee: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will then read, with respect, the excerpts from the Crown

Counsel Policy Manual, which does, of course underline the

point that “the duty to prosecute offences flows directly and

exclusively to the Attorney General” of this province “as the chief law

officer of the Crown…. The Attorney General is ultimately responsible

for all prosecutions within provincial jurisdiction and must fulfil this

constitutional role in an independent and judicial manner.

The AG’s,” or Attorney General’s, “prosecutorial function is

delegated to Crown counsel, who exercise the prosecution function on the

Attorney General’s behalf as their lawful agents. The AG superintends

this function and remains accountable to the Legislature for all

exercises of prosecutorial authority.”

This is what I’m speaking to here today. We know that as we look

forward, as this government continues to want to frame this issue as a

national issue….

Deputy Speaker: Member. Member.

Member, I’ve provided clear direction, as has been pro­vided

by previous Speakers of all partisan stripes. This is not the time to be

targeting government, and it’s not the time to be targeting opposition.

This is a time where you can put forward your own beliefs about your own

party’s position on issues, but it is not the time to target others

negatively.

[10:40 a.m.]

If the member continues down this route, we’re going to have to

move on to the next statement. I would ask him to reframe his comments

in keeping with the rules and practice of this chamber.

M. Lee: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I’ve tried to demonstrate in my remarks this morning, B.C. is

leading in the numbers and in an increasing crime situation here in this

province and in Canada. Un­like other provinces in the rest of

this country, we have exceptionally low charge approval rates and an

extremely minimal population of individuals actually being held in

custody. We have a soaring number of violent criminals. B.C. stands out

for being unsafe.

We need to strive to be better. We need to strive to protect

victims and condemn repeat violent offenders and provide real

consequences so that our streets can be safe.

Our municipalities have been plagued by the ongoing crisis for too

long. In Vancouver, we see an average of four random attacks happening

per day.

We need immediate action. We know that without that immediate

action, confidence in the administration of justice in our province

weakens. This is the concern. It should be the concern of all of us in

this House.

Ultimately, when British Columbians lose confidence in their

justice system, they start to doubt government itself. This is a

concern. If we lose that confidence, we have less accountability for the

actions that those repeat violent offenders are taking in our streets

and that plague our communities every day.

This is why British Columbians and our voice in this House, the

voice on the legislative lawns from Enough Is Enough…. We are speaking

to this, and I hope this government will hear our voice.

N. Simons: I’ll do my best to remain completely non-partisan in the spirit of

the hour that we’ve been allowed.

I thank the member across the way for his comments about crime

statistics. As a former criminology student and instructor, I would just

advise him to be careful about how he uses crime statistics. You have to

look at the length of time, you have to look at the crime severity, and

you have to go back beyond six years in order to actually look for

trends. So I would just caution him on that.

I totally agree with him, with respect, when it comes to

accountability. Any fear of crime is unhealthy in our society. As a

victim of crime myself and as family members have been victims of crime,

nobody is more…. People have a right to be absolutely concerned about

becoming victims of crime. We do our best. Our province has taken

important initiatives in order to address the concerns that are being

expressed in this chamber.

The member talks about the Vancouver police department statistics.

The last two weeks I spent in a coroner’s court in Burnaby, attending

the coroner’s inquest into the death of Myles Gray. When it comes to

accountability, I agree. It is important that we have accountability for

our justice system.

Myles Gray was a 33-year-old businessman from Sechelt. He was on a

delivery in South Vancouver, in the Burnaby area, in August of 2015. He

left his vehicle, leaving his keys and such behind, and he went walking,

obviously disturbed and with a challenging mental health condition. He

sprayed a woman with a hose. A 911 call was made, and he was followed by

the police into a secluded area, whereupon he engaged in, obviously, a

confrontation with the police. He ended up dead.

The coroner’s inquest heard from a number of police officers who

testified about their interaction with him. He had numerous bone

fractures. He had ruptured testicles. He had bruising on his body. The

advanced life support paramedic couldn’t tell his race because of the

coloration of his body. He was left with dorsal handcuffs on his chest

after having been pepper sprayed numerous times.

This is a man who had successfully operated his business out of

Sechelt for over ten years. This was a man whose family and whose

communities were concerned and anxious to find out what exactly

happened.

[10:45 a.m.]

Police refused to take notes in many cases. Their testimony

contradicted some of the ambulance paramedic’s testimony. Firefighters

were prevented from attending him, even though he was both hobbled and

handcuffed and lying on his stomach. Pressure was put on his back. He

ended up dying. The pathologist said that it was a combination of

events. He would not have died had he not had an interaction with the

police that day.

Our system of justice requires oversight. Our system of justice

requires a careful review of all circumstances that involve violence to

individuals in our community. I believe private members’ time is an

opportunity to make suggestions to government on how we can improve our

system.

I know that the coroner’s jury paid special attention the whole

time, during the two weeks of testimony, and they will be coming out

with their verdict. I hope all members of the public take a close look

at the findings of that jury, members of the public, just like us, who

look at a situation and try to determine if there are ways that the

system can be made better.

I would suggest, based on the recommendations from previous

inquiries…. Require that an independent special prosecutor be appointed

in all cases where the independent investigations office makes a report

to Crown counsel.

I would also recommend highly that we reinforce the importance of

de-escalation techniques for law enforcement. De-escalation is primarily

used in order to prevent violent confrontation.

Do we need body cams? I’m sorry, at this stage, that this seems to

be something that is becoming more in the public discussion.

Better training in the use of force. A requirement that police

cooperate with investigations. As Mr. Speaker can well understand, this

has been an important issue of concern for Margie, Myles’s mother; for

Mark, his father; for Melissa, his sister. If anyone has the right to

lack confidence in the administration of criminal justice or the

administration of justice, it’s the Gray family.

I urge all members of this House to do what they can to improve

the system of oversight and prevent these deaths from

occurring.

M. Lee: I just want to thank the member for Powell River–Sunshine Coast

for his thoughtful response in pro­viding his perspective on this

very important topic.

Coming back to my comments, I’m very concerned that since the

government has been looking to its provincial prosecutors…. They’re only

seeking detention in 50 percent of the cases involving violent prolific

offenders. These people have a history of committing violent crimes and

a history of breaching court orders or have committed another crime

subject to a warrant for arrest.

The Attorney General and her office need to ensure that as we look

at how we deal with violent repeat offenders in our province, we’re

taking every action possible to ensure the safety of our streets, the

safety of our communities. I know that the Attorney General, as the

Premier and others have been speaking to, talks about the importance of

reform of the Criminal Code.

When I look back at the important decision which was based upon

the decision of Zora in the Supreme Court of Canada…. The principles

around appropriate bail conditions include a recognition of the risk and

harm to public safety and protection or reducing confidence in the

administration of justice. This is in the very court decision for which

changes to the Criminal Code have been based.

There is an acknowledgment that the administration of justice is

fundamentally important in terms of how Crown prosecutors, the Attorney

General, the criminal justice sys­tem, the court system review the

applications for detention. But the applications for detention need to

be made. When they’re only being made 50 percent of the time…. This is

when the confidence in the administration of justice becomes

weakened.

[10:50 a.m.]

This is my point. It has been made by my good friend and colleague

the member for Surrey South and the member for Abbotsford West. I know

that he may have the opportunity to continue this discussion in

estimates with the Attorney General.

We’ve seen the pattern, where the variation of decisions not to

seek detention is varying around that 50 percent mark. I urge the

government to consider stronger action to be taken against these repeat

violent offenders.

Deputy Speaker: Just to draw everyone’s attention to the standing order, under

25A, which does say that we are not to discuss a matter which has been

discussed in the same session. And if it has been discussed extensively

in the estimates process, in order to protect private members’ time to

discuss issues that haven’t had that chance, I would ask members to

consider that standing order. Thank you.

YOUTH WEEK

H. Yao: B.C. Youth Week is a provincewide celebration of youth held during

the first week of May. It was initially designed to be a week of

fun-filled interactions and celebrations intended to foster a stronger

connection between youth and communities. The celebrations in the

community are designed to highlight the interests, accomplishments and

diversity of youth across the province.

Although the concept of Youth Week started in 1995 by a small

group of local municipal planners and youth recreation leaders in the

Lower Mainland, it has now blossomed into a provincewide celebration

built on partnerships with youth, community leaders, advocates,

different levels of governments, businesses, non-profits, schools, media

and many more local youth champions.

During the first week of May, youth in B.C. will be given the

opportunity to participate in activities and events organized by youth

for youth. B.C. Youth Week often includes youth award ceremonies,

advocacy campaigns, services projects, entertainment, educational

forums, games, sports, competitions and other opportunities to engage

the full spectrum of diverse youth in a meaningful, constructive,

respectful and appreciative manner.

Youth Week is an important opportunity for us to recognize and

celebrate the incredible contributions young people make in our

province. Young people are the future of our province. They will be the

leaders, innovators and changemakers of tomorrow. We must show them that

we understand and appreciate that they are valued members of our

community and we believe in their potential to make a positive impact in

our economy, social justice, equity and prosperity.

That’s why our government is committed to support the growth of

our young people into someone who they want to be. For starters, our

government initially was committed to build 8,000 on-campus housing beds

in ten years. Only five years in, over 7,700 new student housing beds

are already open and underway. Budget 2023 includes new investments to

exceed that target by adding $575 million over three years to build an

additional 4,000 beds.

In 2019, our government ended interest payments on student loans,

and in April 2023 we announced that we are increasing the weekly student

loan maximum for the first time since 2006. We also lowered the maximum

repayment amount from 20 percent of household income to 10 percent,

making life more affordable to new graduates.

In 2019, our government made the single biggest investment in open

education resources and open textbooks. Over 330 textbooks are now

available, and they range from popular first and secondary subjects such

as math, computer science, chemistry and business. It also includes

textbooks for skills and technical subjects such as foundational trade

courses, health care, tourism, hospitality and adult basic

education.

In 2020, we launched a B.C. access grant as one way to make

post-secondary education and training more affordable and

accessible.

In 2023, the tuition waiver program, which waives tui­tion

fees for former youth in care, is now expanded so all former youth in

care, no matter their age, can access post-secondary education and

training. Budget 2023 invests $480 million over three years to support

future-ready plans to break down barriers to post-secondary training so

more young people can get the training they need in in-demand

careers.

One of the reasons we should celebrate Youth Week is to empower

youth development. Youth development is a process that enables young

people to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults. However, some young

people expressed overwhelming challenges, and they need community to

rally together with them.

[10:55 a.m.]

At any given time, an estimated 95,000 or about 12.7 percent of

B.C. children aged four to 18 are experiencing a mental health challenge

that is causing significant symptoms and/or impairment. Approximately 75

percent of serious mental health issues emerge before the age of

Due to intergenerational trauma and the ongoing effects of

colonization and racism, First Nation, Métis and Inuit children and

youth are at higher risk of mental health and substance use challenges.

That is why our government is working hard to support youth in our

community.

We’ve strengthened the Foundry network across the province.

Foundry provides virtual support, free and confidential mental health

and substance use support, physical and sexual health services, peer

support and social services to young people aged between 12 and 24 and

their families.

Our province further strengthened our support to young people by

committing to implementing integrated child and youth teams in 20 school

districts by 2024. Integrated child and youth teams are a groundbreaking

approach designed to fill gaps and better coordinate mental health and

substance use care through multidisciplinary teams.

There are also 92 child and youth mental health teams across the

province. Child and youth mental health team clinicians provide initial

assessments to ensure that children and youth are connected to the right

supports.

Everyday anxiety strategies for educators, also called EASE, is an

online course for educators that helps bring mental health supports and

resources right into the classroom for K-to-12 students. Rooted in

cognitive behavioural therapy, EASE includes strategies for effective

anxiety management skills.

The mental health services in schools strategy also outlines a

vision and pathway for mental health and substance use support for

students and adults throughout the K-to-12 education system and expands

on the Pathway to Hope. The strategy includes compassionate systems

leadership, in-school capacity building and mental health in

classrooms.

There are also other government and community initiatives that

support young people’s mental health needs, including Here2Talk; Kids

Help Phone; FamilySmart; Confident Parents, Thriving Kids; and much

more.

Youth Week can also help break down stereotypes and negative

perceptions of young people. Young people are often unfairly

characterized as lazy or apathetic. However, Youth Week celebrates and

demonstrates many ways in which young people are active, engaged, caring

and committed to create a better world for all. Youth Week celebrates

young people’s talents, skills, interests and passion.

As a former youth worker in Richmond, I never cease to be amazed

by the ingenuity, dedication, compassion and conviction young people

have as they serve and better the community through volunteerism.

Furthermore, young advocates are champions of raising awareness of

issues that matter. We need to work with young people and foster safe,

inclusive platforms for them to voice their concern.

I look forward to the member opposite’s additional comments on

Youth Week. Thank you, everyone.

C. Oakes: Listening to, empowering and supporting our youth is of paramount

importance to all members in this House, and I’d like to thank the

member for Richmond South Centre for his comments this

morning.

B.C. Youth Week, being held in the first week of May, is an

opportunity for all members of this House to recognize the significant

contributions that youth have in each of our communities. The week is

designed to foster a strong bond between young people and their

communities, and it’s packed with lots of opportunities and engaging

activities across this province.

One of the most significant obstacles facing youth is the

challenge of figuring out where they belong, how they can contribute in

this world. As they navigate the complexities of youth and adulthood,

they often encounter pressures in their life, mental health struggles

and difficulties in finding stable employment or educational

opportunities.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

I’m sure every member in this House remembers that anxiety of

figuring out exactly what is next and feeling a little lost at times,

but it is crucial that we recognize the importance of youth and ensure

that they have every opportunity to succeed. Members of this House, of

this Legislature, play a vital role in that effort, and we must do

everything we can to empower and establish the right policies and

programs that will support the development of young people in British

Columbia. In the next decade, 80 percent of jobs in this province are

going to require some type of advanced education.

[11:00 a.m.]

Currently since 2017, we’ve seen a significant decline in students

transitioning from K to12 to post-secondary and advanced education. We

need to be paying attention to this fact. Why are we struggling with

ensuring that students feel empowered to move on?

If we continue to not pay attention and ensure that we’re setting

up the right environments, this is going to have a significant impact on

all of us. Whether we’ve seen the impacts of Indigenous and vulnerable

students not transitioning as high as they should…. I think that’s

important. Showing that actions matter can have a considerable impact to

connection and to communities and is important.

The member for Richmond South Centre talked about the supports

necessary in our K-to-12 system. I can share with the member that our

communities are struggling to access the important, necessary supports,

whether it’s supporting our students to get access to mental health

supports, whether it’s supports that…. Our students are on significantly

long waiting lists to access things from speech language pathologists to

counsellors, you name it.

In rural British Columbia, some of these students and young people

are waiting months, up to a year, to access very critical, important

supports for youth. And this is having a tremendous impact on our young

people, their mental health and how they’re feeling engaged in the

community. It’s something all members in this House need to be paying

attention to.

It’s one thing to announce all of the great things or investments

in dollars, but it’s another to start looking at outcomes and what kind

of outcomes the money that government is putting into communities is

delivering on the ground in our communities. I can share with members in

this House that our young people are struggling.

As we celebrate Youth Week, it is critical that we continue to

listen and prioritize the needs of youth in British Columbia, ensure

that they have access to the resources and opportunities that they need

to thrive. This includes investing in mental health and wellness

programs and making sure that those programs are available in all of our

communities across British Columbia, providing access to affordable

housing and education and supporting initiatives that support and

promote building connections and community involvement.

Celebrating Youth Week is an essential part of creating a brighter

future for young people in British Columbia. By highlighting their

achievements and diversity, we can send a message that they are valued

members of this society and have much to contribute. We must listen to

the students and ensure we are supporting them.

H. Yao: I want to thank the member opposite for her remarks. I deeply

appreciate her comments.

Now I’m going to be shamelessly promoting some city of Richmond

Youth Week activities. Everything I share can be found on Instagram by

checking out @cityofrichmondyouth.

The city of Richmond is hosting a scavenger hunt, an opportunity

for young people to get familiar words and discover areas and services

in the community. By completing the full scavenger hunt, they can enter

to win prizes.

Thompson youth community is inviting youth to compete in a T-shirt

design contest, creating a T-shirt in line with the theme “Connecting

youth and building community.” Young people are asked to digitize their

design and submit it to the ssy@richmond.ca.

West Richmond is hosting a photography challenge. The theme is

“What does Richmond mean to you? Where are your favourite spots in

Richmond?” Young people are asked to send photos of their favourite

spots in Richmond for a chance to win a prize. The winner will be based

on the creativity, uniqueness and technical aspects of the photo

submission. West Richmond youth is also hosting a game show Monday.

Youth are invited to play for prizes and challenge each other on a

game-show style activity and compete and have some fun

together.

Steveston youth is hosting a movie night. Young people are invited

to watch a movie, complete with popcorn and fun games. Please bring a

blanket and padded seat, as seating is limited. The movie of choice:

The Lorax .

South Arm youth is hosting a three-on-three basketball tournament.

Young people are asked to assemble their best squad and compete with

others to be crowned Richmond basketball champions.

[11:05 a.m.]

Thompson youth welcomes people to join them for baked treats and

sweets. Youth get to make, bake and eat delicious handmade food. People

are asked to bring their own containers to take away.

The city of Richmond will be hosting the annual U-ROC awards to

celebrate the achievements and dedication of Richmond’s outstanding

youth and Asset Champions. This event is by invitation only,

unfortunately.

The West Richmond Community Centre is also hosting a glow in the

dark night. Youth are invited to a Friday night hangout with a glow in

the dark theme. They’re going to be playing hide-and-seek and — this is

the first I heard about this — laser sabre tag. I don’t know what that

is, but it sounds fun.

The city of Richmond is also hosting a career in media arts. If

anyone is interested in a career in media arts, this is a great

opportunity to hear from the pros and to learn about the prospective

field, career opportunities and more. Topics include journalism,

filming, videography and more.

City centre C-Change will be hosting a youth mental wellness art

workshop. Young people are invited to come and spend a relaxing

afternoon with snacks, friends and the arts. The young leadership team

will be leading a paint workshop and celebrating youth and Mental Health

Week.

Therefore, I will say it to everybody. Happy Youth Week,

everyone.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you very much, Member. Love your enthusiasm.

Hon. J. Whiteside: I ask that the House consider proceeding with Motion 43,

standing in the name of the member for West

Vancouver–Capilano.

Deputy Speaker: Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed to

Motion 43 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it

on the order paper.

Leave granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 43 — INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT

FOR VULNERABLE

PERSONS

K. Kirkpatrick: I move:

[Be it resolved that this House supports the limited use of

involuntary treatment to keep our most vulnerable youth and adults at

risk of harm to themselves or others safe at modernized, compassionate

facilities with twenty-four seven psychiatric and medical

supports.]

I rise in the House today to advocate for supporting the limited

use of compassionate involuntary treatment to keep our most vulnerable

youth and adults at risk of harm to themselves or others safe at

modernized, compassionate facilities, with 24-7 psychiatric and medical

supports.

British Columbia is facing a crisis. Since the overdose crisis was

declared a public health emergency in 2016, more than 11,000 British

Columbians have, unfortunately and unnecessarily, lost their

lives.

I want you to think about that number for a moment: 11,000. That

is 25 percent of the number of Canadians that died in World War II. It’s

four times the capacity of Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth

Theatre.

I want you to think about that the next time you go to see a play

or show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Look around and imagine four

times the number of people sitting there.

Clearly, the current approach isn’t working. We can’t continue to

do more of the same and expect better results.

Currently we value a child’s right to refuse treatment over a

child’s best interest. But is the child or is anyone able to exercise

free will while they’re in active addiction?

We know untreated addiction leads to homelessness, criminal

activity, prostitution and overdoses. These result in health issues such

as heart attacks. Permanent brain damage is a significant issue with

overdoses. Girls and women are most at risk of sexual exploitation in

order to feed addiction.

In addition, many individuals are struggling with un­treated

mental illness, and communities continue to grapple with increasing

homelessness and social disorder.

If a child is refusing treatment, the choice is not between

voluntary and involuntary treatment. It’s between involuntary treatment

and an untreated life-destroying addiction. Under the UN convention on

the rights of the child, children have the right to be protected even

from themselves.

As compassionate citizens and legislators, it’s our duty to

explore every possible avenue for those struggling to overcome addiction

and to provide them with access to all types of treatments and support

services that can help them in achieving their long-term recovery. As

laid out in the official opposition’s Better Is Possible plan, this

includes the limited use of involuntary care as a necessary tool to

treat mental health and substance use disorders.

[11:10 a.m.]

Now while involuntary care should only be used when all other

options have been exhausted. It’s crucial to recognize that there are

extraordinary situations where this type of intervention and support is

necessary and beneficial for both adults and children. In fact we have a

moral obligation to protect the small portion of the population that is

at a point in their life where their mental health and their addictions

have caused them to lose the ability to make decisions which are in

their own best interests.

These individuals are often in a state of vulnerability and

require our support and care to recover and to lead a healthy life. So

many parents are struggling with this issue, and we can’t leave these

parents to cope on their own with their loved ones’ deteriorating health

and the threats of exploitation by drug dealers and human traffickers.

They need our support and compassion, not our judgment or

indifference.

That’s where the government has a role to play: to look after and

provide support to these families and individuals who are in desperate

need of help. So we must work together to provide better care and

support for our most vulnerable youth and adults at risk of harm to

themselves or to others. We owe it to them. We owe it to their families

to ensure that they receive care and treatment in a safe environment

where they can recover and lead fulfilling lives.

A. Singh: Involuntary treatment just doesn’t work. It makes things

worse.

Firstly, let me just dispel the myth. Involuntary care is already

a tool that’s used in our system. We use it for treatment for people who

are deemed not criminally responsible for crimes. But more importantly,

for this purpose, it’s used to keep people involuntarily under the

Mental Health Act for medical reasons. It already exists. We leave that

discretion, generally, to the experts who make that decision

objectively, based on evidence and medical examination, and not on

emotions.

I get it. I have a daughter, and I want to protect her. But

sometimes what we want is fuelled by emotion alone, and it may not

produce a result that we want. We want people to be able to overcome

their addiction, and that takes work. We already have a system in place

that has the ability to keep someone, if needed, in place. Is it

perfect? No. No system ever is. But it’s on the right path. Can it be

improved? Of course it can.

We need more psychiatrists, more resources and an actual system in

place. That is exactly what our government has been creating from the

ground up, what it’s been doing for the last few years: creating, from

the ground up, a multifaceted complex care system, a regime.

You know, we get elected to represent our constituents. But

sometimes there are things that happen in life that also spur us and

fuel us to do this service work. This motion really hits at the heart of

one of those things for me.

It’s no mystery to most of you in this House that I am a

recovering alcoholic. I say “recovering,” because I now recognize that I

have a condition of the mind and soul that I need to be cognizant of. I

need to remind myself of the depths that I can go.

Mental health, especially when it comes to substance use, is not a

simple public policy issue with a simple solution. Its complexity is

something that we recognize, hence the myriad solutions that we’re

working on.

I was once at a place where there seemingly was no hope for me, in

the depths of a mental disease that took all control from me, having had

several GI bleeds, liver cirrhosis, and where I nearly died on multiple

occasions. I attended voluntary treatment several times, and I still

drank after that. Addiction is like that. Until you are ready, and

you’ve had that moment of clarity, you and those around you can expend

all the resources at your disposal, all just to see repeated

failure.

Until I had that moment of clarity, that spark, and heard what I

felt from another person telling their story, I wasn’t going to recover.

That’s the thing about treatment. You have to seek it, and you have to

want it. This is my lived experience, and hence, anecdotal. I know that.

But it’s also a sentiment that is echoed by addiction and medical

experts alike, and the majority of those with lived experience, like

myself. You will find journal after journal with that

sentiment.

I quote one study funded by the National Institutes of Health in

the U S. “Involuntary interventions for substance use disorders are less

effective and potentially more harmful than voluntary treatment, and

involuntary centres often serve as venues for abuse. Scaling up

voluntary, evidence-based, low-barrier treatment op­tions might

invalidate the perceived necessity of involuntary interventions and

could go a long way towards reducing overdose risk.”

[11:15 a.m.]

How did we get here? Unfortunately for us, there was almost two

decades of not only inaction but going backwards — closing of

institutions, deregulating recovery homes. This contributed to the

problem that we are seeing today. What’s needed and what was missing is

a system of care that looks at the larger picture and doesn’t pander to

simplistic views not based in lived experience or science. That’s what

we’re building today and have been — a system of care so people can

access treatment and services when and where they need it.

As part of our Pathway to Hope, the government’s vision is to

build an integrated and seamless system of mental health and substance

use services from the ground up through historic investments, including

enhancements across a full spectrum of treatment and recovery and

increasing access to harm reduction measures like drug checking and

overdose prevention sites. I know that these services are making a

difference.

I also know that in addition to all of these services, we have to

look at the real human factor, the fragility of a person in that

situation, and that our approach has to be to destigmatize drug use so

that we can pull people out of the shadows and keep them alive so that

we can get them to treatment when they need it and when they want it.

Safe supply and decriminalization are important pillars of

that.

The minimizing down to only treatment ignores the complexity and

is doomed to fail and is also rooted in the troublesome morality of

denigrating people with real-life mental health issues, confining them

to one dimensional creatures with a problem. The system that we are

building recognizes that and recognizes that dignity is of foremost

importance, especially for those who are already at the bottom of a

seemingly bottomless pit and who have little, if any, self

worth.

I know that feeling. I’ve been there, and the last thing I needed

was someone preaching at me. I was lucky. I got a helping hand to pull

me out. And that is what we as a government want. We want the system

that we’re building to be that helping hand.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

A. Singh: Look, I get it. It’s an emotional subject…

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

A. Singh: …when you see a loved one suffering and it seems like an easy

fix.

Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Member.

T. Halford: I’m grateful to rise today to speak on this motion.

I want to first start by saying I want to thank the member for

Richmond-Queensborough for sharing his personal journey. That’s not the

first time that he’s had the courage to do that in this House, but each

time that he does do that helps reduce one of the biggest challenges

that we’ve got and that’s in terms of stigma. So I want to thank him for

doing that.

When we talk about involuntary treatment to keep our most

vulnerable youth and adults at risk of harm to themselves or others safe

in modernized, compassionate facilities with 24-7 psychiatric and

medical supports…. For years, our caucus has been advocating for urgent

comprehensive action to help stem the deadly tide of the overdose

crisis.

Now when we talk about involuntary care, we should also mention,

too, that the current Premier has had some conflicting positions on

involuntary care. Very early on, he’s come out and spoke in terms of the

necessity of involuntary treatment, and that position may have changed

in the last couple of months. I think we need to get some clarity on

that.

What we do know is that since this crisis has first been declared

in 2016, declared a public health emergency, more than 11,000 British

Columbians have lost their lives. Six years after the creation of a

specific Ministry for Mental Health and Addictions, we need to

understand that things, in a way, have gotten worse, not better. I think

that’s something that’s affected and touched every community in our

province. I know it has mine. I know it has in every other

member’s.

We have to realize that the results we are seeing show that this

government’s approach is failing on a number of fronts. It’s failing our

youth. It’s failing almost every demographic that touches this province.

And I’m not the only one to think so.

[11:20 a.m.]

Last year the second B.C. Coroners Service death panel review

report concluded: “With illicit drug-related deaths continuing to

increase, it has become clear that the current response to this

emergency is not working.” That’s from the second report from the

coroner.

This past week ASK Wellness executive officer Bob Hughes wrote

about the current crisis and said: “Looking at the landscape today, what

seems so glaringly absent is a coordinated framework, a pathway out of

this human and civic catastrophe.” So we’ve said it in this House, but

experts are saying it very clearly: the toll our current crisis is

having on communities throughout B.C. is demanding a comprehensive

change.

Now, we put forward a clear vision for what is possible in this

province. I think part of that vision has been echoed, hopefully, by

people in this House, on the other side of this House. When we talk

about the fact that better is possible, because it is, here are some of

the things that we talk about.

We talk about eliminating user fees on publicly funded addiction

treatment beds and providing direct government funding for private beds,

because your T4 slip should not determine whether or not you get the

help that you need when you need it. Addictions can’t wait. They can’t

wait until there is a bed available, because in that two weeks, two

months, six months, in terms of waiting…. Oftentimes it’s too

late.

We talk about building regional recovery communities where people

struggling with addiction can stay for up to a year, with individualized

holistic treatment support. Those are the steps, and many more steps,

that this opposition has put forward to deal with the crisis.

S. Chant: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the motion from the

member for West Vancouver–Capi­lano: “Be it resolved that this

House support the limited use of involuntary treatment to keep our most

vulnerable youth and adults at risk of harm to themselves or others safe

at modernized compassionate facilities with twenty-four seven

psychiatric and medical supports.”

I will start by acknowledging that I’m speaking today from the

territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən people,

specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees. I am very grateful to be

welcome in this place and be given the chance to learn of the unwavering

stewardship over time immemorial.

I also acknowledge that I represent North

Vancouver–​Seymour, which is in the territory of the Squamish and

Tsleil-Waututh Nations. There, I live, work and learn ongoing of the

remarkable work that has been done to preserve language, culture, land

and water so that the nations are once again thriving.

As a health care clinician who has worked not only in psychiatry

but also in a variety of other areas where mental health impacts the

ability to provide safe and effective care, this topic is very

challenging for me. On the one hand, we have the Mental Health Act,

which allows for the detention of individuals against their own wishes

if they are deemed to be unsafe for themselves or others. Although this

sounds very simple to implement, it is nothing of the sort and requires

certification.

As well, a number of other steps are required to be taken to

ensure that the patient, to the best of their ability at the time,

understands what is happening and what their recourse can be — in a

nutshell, to know their rights.

I’m not sure, hon. Speaker, if you have ever dealt with someone

who is posing a risk of harm to themselves or to others. However, it

should not be a surprise to anyone that those are very difficult

situations. The individuals could be manifesting mental health distress,

the effects of drugs or alcohol, a response to recent or long-term

trauma, an intense emotional response to their current situation or

something as simple as a urinary tract infection or low blood

sugar.

If they have, in fact, come in or been brought in to somewhere for

help, it is up to a clinician or a clinical team to make the best

assessment they can of what has happened, what is currently going on and

how to provide the best care for the best outcome.

[11:25 a.m.]

The patient themselves could be wanting a range of services:

admission to a supportive environment where they are fed, safe,

accommodated, cared for and possibly treated with a variety of

interventions by a team of clinical professionals, or a brief assessment

in an emergency room — some type of outpatient treatment and

discharge.

The other end of the spectrum is when someone is brought in for

assessment, does not want to be there and does not want to stay. You can

possibly imagine a situation where everyone around you is convinced that

you need help, yet you, yourself, believe there is no need for it, that

it is useless and it is not wanted.

Our current Mental Health Act allows for an individual to be held

without consent but not to be treated against their will. The province

of B.C. continues to implement a full system of care for people who are

experiencing mental health and addiction disorders, the Pathway to Hope;

prevention and harm reduction in the school system, in the workplace and

in communities; intervention through multimodal treatments;

rehabilitation as appropriate; and ongoing support for relapse

management both in mental health and addiction.

Indigenous treatment centres have been established with culturally

sensitive and safe interventions offered by those who know and

understand so much more of the First Nations experience. There are

services for children, youth, adults and seniors throughout our

province. An investment of $1 billion is in the 2023 budget to expand on

the services already in place and to fill in gaps so that people can get

the services they want or need when they want or need it.

Additional work is being done across our communities to provide

and publicize the variety of services available so that others can get

help — for friends, family or community members — to a door that is open

for that first and crucial step.

Trying to find help for someone in a mental health or addictions

crisis is a dark place to be, particularly if the individual feels that

they do not want help. However, our government is committed to building

and maintaining a system that is accessible when and where it is needed.

Every person presents a unique set of characteristics and care needs,

and we will ensure that there is an open and welcoming door to offer

support, treatment and hope.

D. Davies: I’m glad to have the opportunity to rise today and support this

motion.

Like others in this House, across British Columbia, many of us

have personal stories. I, myself, as many know, lost a brother to

addiction and have another family member that is currently in addiction.

It makes it very personal.

Substance use in British Columbia does continue to have

devastating effects. In fact, as of March of this year, the highest

number of overdose calls to police and paramedics happened ever in a

30-day period. The lone day of March 22 also had the highest number of

calls in a single day, with a staggering 205 calls for

overdose.

The situation is desperate. The substance use crisis has never

been more dire in this province. How many people must die, risk brain

damage or go through trauma before meaningful action is taken by this

government, before this government starts listening to the

recommendations of the Health Committee, which I and a number of other

members sat on?

My concerns arise from the serious lack of treatment and recovery

services, in fact, in my constituency and, certainly, across more rural

and remote areas. Just recently a new supervised consumption site was

announced in Fort St. John. Now, we completely agree with and support

the full continuum of care, but this government is focusing far too much

and far too heavily on harm reduction without focusing on treatment and

recovery.

In fact, the Canadian government’s letter of requirements, which

explicitly outlines the work that was supposed to be done as a condition

of decriminalization, lays out a set of actions and commitments that

were to be fulfilled, such as enhancing the availability of treatment

options and guaranteeing that the health and social systems are

adequately prepared and equipped. However, that deadline has come and

passed, and we have yet to see these guardrails put in place, leaving

many British Columbians with no access to treatment.

The lack of treatment access is considerably bad in my region,

where we have no detox beds or any recovery services — in the northeast.

This leaves individuals in my region with only access to a consumption

site but none of the supports that are supposed to go along with that,

including resources to support someone through their

recovery.

[11:30 a.m.]

Most people suffering from addiction, and their loved ones, are

upset that they are not able to immediately access the services when

they need them, where they need them. In fact, the closest resource is

500 kilometres away through a mountain pass in Prince George. Many must

take this long bus ride only to be turned away, in a seemingly

never-ending waiting list.

The city of Prince George is already struggling to care for its

own population, and now it must somehow make room for all northern

British Columbians, but as usual, the NDP does not focus, sadly, on the

impacts on northern and remote British Columbia. The province is

desperately in need of change that would save lives and provide safer

communities for everyone.

The limited use of compassionate and voluntary treatment will help

our most vulnerable youth and adults reach the care that they need

themselves to keep others safe. Better is possible. That is part of our

highlights of our plan. Part of the Better Is Possible plan addresses

the absence of regional facilities. Our plan calls for a minimum of five

regional recovery communities for addiction treatment, where residents

can stay up to a year with individualized, holistic, long-term care and

treatment, including Indigenous-specific care.

We propose modernized spaces that provide 24-7 psychiatric and

medical support, so that people are supported at every step of their

journey. We pledge to work with individuals and get them to a place

where they, the public and everyone are protected. Our plan is even

backed by professionals, such as the notable Simon Fraser University

addiction and substance use expert, Dr. Julian Somers. So why won’t the

government listen? The time for action is now.

The substance use crisis has entered its seventh year, and it’s

clear that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting

different results isn’t working. We need to recognize that this isn’t

our new normal, that better is possible for all British Columbians, but

only if we try to make those changes.

Compassionate and voluntary care can deliver the results British

Columbians are waiting for, the results the families are waiting for

and, most importantly, the results the individual is waiting for. It’s

time for the NDP to open resources and deliver the care that people

expect.

B. D’Eith: I did want to rise to speak to this motion.

I’ve spoken a

number of times in the House about the struggles that my family has

dealt with, in terms of mental health and addictions. I won’t repeat

that, but I will say that I did want to thank the people that work in

mental health and addictions. Particularly, recently there was one

family member who had to get treatment and was very well taken care of

within the system. I really want to say that I appreciate the

professionals.

The question of involuntary treatment is a complex one. It’s not

as binary as the opposition may be making it out to be. While I

understand that some advocates for youth and adults suffering from

overdose and addiction are calling for stricter involuntary holds,

there’s a real issue presented by other advocates where there may be

significant trauma associated with holding youth or adults against their

will — in particular, Indigenous youth.

The Premier has asked the minister to assess and ex­pand the

supports for people who are causing detrimental harm to themselves and

others as a result of their mental health and substance use, but we need

to do this on an evidence-based approach. This will be assessed and then

move forward.

In fact, as has been mentioned, British Columbia’s Mental Health

Act already allows the admission to treat people with serious mental

health issues who are at risk to themselves or others. People who are

certified by two doctors, under the Mental Health Act, can be treated

involuntarily for mental health disorder.

All members of this House know we need to redouble our efforts to

save lives and get people the help they need to beat addictions, but for

the majority of people dealing with addictions, forced treatment is

simply not effective. They need to want treatment. Certainly, in my

family, I have seen this happen, when they ask for it. But that’s the

trick. When people ask for treatment, that’s when they need to get it.

They need to get to detox and treatment when they ask for it.

[11:35 a.m.]

That’s why I’m particularly pleased with the Premier’s new

initiative with St. Paul’s, which would have a seamless transition from

addiction to detox to treatment. Also, hon. Speaker, there’s no single

pathway to recovery from addiction. With over 100,000 people suffering

from addictions, we have to offer a variety of ways for people to get

the help they need.

It was really great to see members from right across the House

work with the all-party committee, coming up with 37 unanimous

recommendations, including harm reduction, safer supply, increased

treatment and recovery and decriminalization.

In 2017, our government inherited a fractured and disjointed

approach to mental health and addictions. We’ve been building a system

of care, through the Pathway to Hope, that is leading this country in

terms of response to the crisis and using more tools than anywhere else.

Prior to the pandemic, there were results happening. There was a marked

decrease in the number of overdose deaths, but the supply has become

even more toxic.

We are continuing to build that system of care with $1 billion of

funding allocated to the Pathway to Hope in 2023 to invest in all four

pillars — harm reduction, yes, but treatment and recovery and

prevention, education and enforcement. It’s all four pillars that are

needed.

We can only look at what’s happening right now: opening 360 adult

and youth beds and treatment — that’s doubling youth treatment beds; 42

expanded overdose prevention sites; expanding access to safer supply;

expanding access to mental health supports through community counselling

and the addition of complex care beds; implementing decriminalization so

that for people who are using, there will be a reduction in stigma and

more access to safer supply.

On the enforcement side, hiring nearly 300 new police officers —

270 — to help prevent money laundering and organized crime that fuels

this toxic drug supply, and get more boots on the ground. In my riding,

there is funding specifically for youth. We have a Foundry that helps

incredibly with mental health and addictions, and it’s tied closely with

the ICY team that’s embedded in the schools. Maple Ridge has that, and

now Mission is going to be getting that as well. We also opened two new

treatment beds in the Maple Ridge Treatment Centre and

others.

The point here is that we have to focus on all four pillars: harm

reduction, treatment, prevention, enforcement — all of these things. We

are building the system of care, and we will continue to do

so.

T. Shypitka: British Columbia’s addiction crisis has been spiralling out of

control for years, and it’s time to start getting some results. Far too

many people are losing their lives and suffering from the drug toxicity

crisis as the longest-ever public health emergency in our province’s

history extends even further. This is a crisis of incomprehensible

scale, and I extend my condolences to those who have experienced the

loss of a loved one.

The 596 lives lost between January and March of this year is

staggering, and it is now the second-highest total ever recorded in the

three-month calendar year. Something is clearly not working. Five people

have died in the East Kootenays so far in 2023.

We need to change our approach. This crisis requires an urgent

response and one that follows the recommendations of the Select Standing

Committee on Health. Their recommendations were clear. There can’t be

decriminalization without the provisions of evidence-based treatment and

recovery services along with requirements for reporting outcomes. We

fully believe in a comprehensive approach to care, and we are concerned

that the current government is neglecting the crucial elements of

treatment and recovery, including involuntary care as a last

resort.

The recently introduced decriminalization pilot project exempts

small amounts of select hard drugs from the Controlled Drugs and

Substances Act, but this agreement was supposed to be contingent on

letter of requirements. These include expanding the capacity of

accessible treatment and ensuring the readiness and capacity of mental

health support systems. Unacceptably, the state of our treatment

facilities clearly shows that British Columbia has failed to meet these

conditions and continues to be ill-prepared to effectively implement

this experimental policy.

The overdose crisis has underscored the urgent need to provide

individuals who want to quit using drugs with access to life-saving

treatment measures. While publicly supplied addictive drugs can be a

component of a continuum of care, they are not the solution. It’s

essential to explore a range of options and approaches to effectively

address this issue and support those in need.

[11:40 a.m.]

Individuals who seek help should be able to pick up the phone and

immediately receive the treatment they need without barriers. However,

under this NDP government, individuals who are struggling with substance

use face long wait-lists and limited access to facilities that are

supposed to be helping them. Sadly, some of these individuals will die

while waiting.

In my riding of Kootenay East, this is about compassion for those

suffering from substance use but also those who are on the front lines

responding to far too many overdose calls daily. This is a massive

strain on our emergency health care workers, who want to help those that

are the most vulnerable but that tend to fall through the

cracks.

This is why the B.C. United caucus presented the public with the

Better Is Possible plan, a comprehensive plan to overhaul the delivery

of mental health services and build a recovery-oriented system of care

for those suffering from addiction. A large part of this plan is

understanding that addressing this crisis means providing more than just

decriminalization and harm reduction but also expanding free and

accessible treatment and recovery options.

We also propose to implement involuntary care where necessary. It

must always be a last resort; however, we do recognize that some cases

require this type of intervention and support for both adults and youth.

This application of involuntary treatment will be to safeguard our most

vulnerable youth and adults, who are at risk of harming themselves or

others, by providing them with access to modernized and compassionate

facilities with around-the-clock psychiatric and medical

assistance.

Simply put, without the proper guardrails in place, addiction and

mental health are left unaided, out in our streets and in

government-purchased hotels. Local businesses are being attacked, and

innocent citizens are victimized as much as those with mental health and

addiction issues. The truth is that nobody generally thinks the current

approach is effective. Simply continuing down the same path will not

improve outcomes. What we require is a significant shift.

As a personal plea, I would like to strike the term “safe supply.”

Use the term “less toxic” or “publicly supplied addictive drugs,”

whatever the term is. Once you mix the word “safe” with these hard,

addictive drugs, the message is wrong, and it’s sent to our children. I

can testify to that personally. I know people who have died from what

this government refers to as safe.

I support the motion. Quite honestly, better is possible, and I

strive for that outcome.

R. Leonard: We are debating the limited use of involuntary treatment to keep

our most vulnerable youth and adults, who are at risk of harm to

themselves or others, safe at modernized, compassionate facilities with

24-7 psychiatric and medical supports.

It’s important to acknowledge the complexities of having a loved

one who has serious destructive behaviours. Whether self-inflicted or

lashing out, whether seated in mental health or substance use, or both,

it is devastating. There can come a time when it feels like the only

solution is an involuntary admission to a facility to keep them or

others safe. If only it could be that simple. Unfortunately, the spectre

of involuntary care increases stigma and can work against the goal of

compassionate care and safety of the person and others.

On the Foundry website is the story of Ashleigh, whose mental

health spiralled down dangerously. This young person says that for two

years she hid that she was hearing voices, because she was fearful that

she would be “locked up in a padded room for the rest of my life.”

Ashleigh would have benefited from an early intervention, before her

mental health broke down significantly. Taking away someone’s freedoms

is a big deal.

Then there are the folks with substance use disorders, whose

destructive behaviours you just want to stop, especially when it leads

to psychosis. If only you could separate them from the drugs that are

destroying their lives. Unfortunately, the evidence is in: there is a

heightened risk of death after compulsory treatment. These are just two

of the unintended adverse outcomes. Taking away someone’s freedoms is a

big deal.

We all benefit from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

That includes people who are subject to involuntary admission under the

Mental Health Act. In the one-year span of 2021 to ‘22, there were

approaching 29,000 involuntary hospitalizations, including repeat

patients.

[11:45 a.m.]

In January 2021, the Representative for Children and Youth

released her report Detained: Rights of Children and Youth Under the

Mental Health Act , revealing that the number of involuntary

admissions of adults increased by 57 percent but that, for children and

youth, the increase was 167 percent. It’s important to note that those

figures covered a nine-year period from 2008 to early 2018, primarily

when the opposition was in government. It begs the question of: what is

“limited use of involuntary treatment”?

To protect the Charter rights of those tens of thousands of

British Columbians, last year our government passed amendments to the

Mental Health Act which led to this year’s selection of the Canadian

Mental Health Association to develop and deliver — in partnership with

Health Justice, the Community Legal Assistance Society and Métis Nation

B.C. — the independent rights advice service recommended by B.C.’s

Ombudsperson in 2019. Providing information about their rights and

options will be a phone call away. This help is independent of the

health professionals who are making the decisions about their

care.

The Representative for Children and Youth raised the question of

balance. If so many resources are dedicated to involuntary care, what’s

left for voluntary care? Since taking office, our government has been

building a seamless system of care with a particular focus on youth and

marginalized Indigenous people. Involuntary admissions, yes, but with

voluntary programs at the forefront, simply because early intervention

and willing participation is the recipe for success.

I mentioned Foundry earlier. In speaking to Angie Pres­cott

at Comox Valley’s award-winning centre for youth, I heard that the

options for children and youth aged 12 to 24 on Vancouver Island are

robust.

The new Red Fish Healing Centre in Coquitlam pro­vides a

welcoming space with 105 beds, 15 of which are an enhanced care unit

designed for people who need help managing aggression or behaviour

issues in addition to treatment for their mental illness and substance

use challenges. It has been quoted as saying “This care model is a

catalyst for change,” and our government is rolling out this model to

regions across B.C. It’s only one of many additions with the more than

$1 billion dedicated in the 2023 budget.

In the face of the complexities of providing safe and

compassionate care, our government is committed to continue assessing

all the facets of our mental health and substance use services,

including the use of involuntary admissions for care, in order to keep

people and communities safe.

R. Merrifield: I rise today to speak in support of the motion that’s before us,

because we need to ensure the safety of our vulnerable youth and adults

who are at risk of harm to themselves or others. We need modernized,

compassionate facilities of 24-7 psychiatric and medical support.

Unfortunately, this government has failed to take adequate action to

address this crisis. They are answering the call of treatment and mental

health supports with more addictive drugs, and the results are getting

worse.

There are so many within my constituency struggling with finding

the mental health supports for their children, young adults and

relatives. The desperate cries from these relatives, to try and secure

mental health supports, literally haunt me, because there are so many.

The subject line from an email I received late Saturday night said: “Is

anyone listening anymore?”

letter of requirements to support B.C.’s decriminalization of hard drugs

like crystal meth, crack cocaine and fentanyl, which includes specific

actions and commitments to expand treatment capacity, engage with key

stakeholders and Indigenous partners, increase public education and

communications, and develop monitoring and evaluation models.

Illicit drug use in public spaces has exposed innocent children to

harmful scenes, substances and paraphernalia. Increased social disorder

has impacted our communities and small businesses. Shockingly, someone

dies from an overdose every few hours, averaging out to six lives taken

every single day, and it’s getting worse.

This is unacceptable, and British Columbians have had enough.

Their compassion fatigue is growing. It needs to end, and those

suffering from addictions deserve the treatment, care and respect from

the government to get well and to one day thrive and reach their full

potential.

[11:50 a.m.]

The B.C. United caucus stands by our Better Is Possible plan

which, amongst many other results-focused initiatives, includes

compassionate involuntary treatment. We propose bringing forward

legislation allowing the limited use of involuntary treatment to keep

our most vulnerable youth and adults at risk of harm to themselves or

others safe at modernized, compassionate facilities with 24-7

psychiatric and medical support to give them a path to wholeness and

healing, rather than the path that they are given today, which leads to

homelessness and hopelessness.

Better is possible, which is why our plan also calls for a

comprehensive range of supports for the most vulnerable British

Columbians experiencing addiction and mental health troubles, such as

affordable and accessible treatment, which would eliminate user fees for

publicly funded addiction treatment beds and provide direct government

funding for private beds through surge capacity agreements to ensure no

one faces financial barriers to treatment.

This is on top of complex mental health support, which calls for a

tripling of the beds at the Red Fish Healing Cen­tre at Riverview

and building additional regional centres, using that successful model in

the North, Thompson-Okanagan, Kootenays and Vancouver Island to ensure

that those requiring highly specialized mental health support can

receive it close to home.

Experts such as Dr. Julian Somers, a distinguished professor at

SFU, and treatment and recovery experts such as Susan Hogarth from

Westminster House support this plan. Compassionate, recovery-focused

involuntary treatment used as a last resort for those who are most at

risk of harming themselves or others should be considered.

After more than six years of poor results for all British

Columbians and an absolute downward spiral that is taking place, a

change in approach is needed. By taking a comprehensive, collaborative

approach, we can work to­wards creating a society where everyone

has the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives free from the

devastating impacts of addiction.

We cannot afford to keep losing more lives to the addiction and

toxic drug crisis. We must protect our loved ones, colleagues and fellow

British Columbians. Action is needed now.

D. Routley: I’m pleased to rise and speak to the motion regarding the use of

involuntary treatment.

The issue around involuntary care for people with mental health

and substance use needs is complex. Clearly, there are many factors to

consider. As the member for Richmond-Queensborough suggested, it has

never proven to be a particularly successful approach to delivering care

to people who need it.

Involuntary care is a tool. We already use it in the case of those

who are considered not criminally responsible for the acts that they

might have carried out or people who have been involuntarily detained

under the Mental Health Act.

Every member here has called for exactly what our government is

doing, and that is building a comprehensive system of mental health

supports. I understand that many members of this House who participate

in private members’ debate haven’t been here for a long time and may not

have witnessed the outcomes of what happened in the 15, 16 years prior

to this government taking power.

When this government took power, we formed government and found a

system of treatment and care that was in disrepair. In 2003, there were

23 percent cuts announced to the Ministry of Children and Family

Development. Across the board, social programs were cut. The legacy of

that is long-standing, and we’re now dealing with that.

We are building a system of care so that people can access the

treatment and care services where and when they need them. We have

opened over 360 new treatment and recovery beds for adults and youth.

The members opposite should know that their government had 15, 16 years

to do these things but did not.

[11:55 a.m.]

Complex care housing for people with a higher level of need is

also being invested in by this government. We have opened the Red Fish

Healing Centre for people living with the most severe, complex substance

use and mental health needs. That’s 105 beds.

Last spring, we passed legislation that amended the Mental Health

Act and provides people involuntarily admitted under the act to access

an independent rights adviser that can help them navigate the system

without the trauma that would naturally, of course, be experienced by

anyone who is apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment and

recovery model. That’s why we are building a full set, a comprehensive

set, of options for people. Those options will meet people where they’re

at and provide the kinds of services that all of the members have said

they desire.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

That’s why this province made a historic $1 billion

in­vestment in this recent budget into an integrated and seamless

system of mental health and addiction care that people need and deserve.

That included $586 million for treatment and recovery.

Members across the way will say: “Well, the amount of money

doesn’t matter. The results matter.” Mr. Speaker, it is true that the

toxic drug crisis we are all experiencing is an unparalleled tragedy in

this province. There is barely one of us in this province who can’t

place the face of someone they love or knew on the face of this problem.

But we need an evidence-based approach.

Involuntary care is shown not to be effective. We can’t measure

what didn’t happen. We can’t measure the peo­ple who didn’t die

out of the 30,000-plus overdoses that happened in safe consumption sites

but were reversed. We can’t measure what didn’t happen, but we can look

at what would happen if we had done more of the same. More of the same

would have meant more cuts. More of the same would have meant less

support. More of the same would have meant the continued deregulation of

care homes, etc.

This is a legacy, and our support is going to build a new legacy.

We are addressing the needs of fragile and vulnerable British Columbians

without cynicism and with the appropriate forms of treatment and

service.

The supports people need, need to be offered as viable

alternatives, where….

Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Member.

D. Routley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

S. Bond: That is a perfect example of why we find our­selves where we

are at today.

I would remind the member opposite that a public health emergency

was declared in 2016. Since that time, under this government’s watch,

six people a day are dying, more than 11,000 people have lost their

lives, and this member wants to take a walk down and look in the past.

He should look in the mirror and move to do something about

this.

Let me remind him of a quote. Here’s a quote: “We need to have

better interventions, and that could and should include involuntary care

to make sure they at least have a chance.” Well, according to the

members on the NDP side today, they must have forgotten who said that.

It was the current Premier of British Columbia, who called for

involuntary care during his nomination campaign.

Was that then, and this is now? There is evidence, and plenty of

it. More than 11,000 people have died. To suggest that we can just keep

doing more of the same is absolutely outrageous. This is one of the most

important issues facing our province, and it is absolutely vital that we

have discussions in this place about doing everything we possibly can to

support British Columbians, no matter how difficult that discussion

might be.

B.C. continues to experience a mental health and addictions

crisis, and coupled with the overdose crisis, there is so much suffering

in our province every single day. Every day in this province, British

Columbians lose siblings and parents and children. We simply must do

better.

[12:00 p.m.]

Let’s remind the member opposite that this is a government that

took this House to an election during a pandemic, based on this very

issue. All I can say to that is: shame on them. We can’t keep doing

things over and over again in the same way and expect different

results.

To save lives, something must change. We have an opportunity to

take bold new steps that will make a real difference, and apparently the

Premier of British Columbia thought it was a good idea during his

campaign to become the leader. So what has changed?

We need a new approach, with people, their health and well-being,

at the centre of the actions we take. We need to create an accessible,

no-cost, recovery-oriented system of care. We have to do more, and a

focus on helping people get well is critical.

We have a responsibility as leaders to do our very best to make

this a reality for every single British Columbian. Now more than ever,

we must treat this issue like the crisis it is. We heard over and over

again on the Select Standing Committee on Health that we need to stand

up a response to this crisis, just like we did when we were facing a

pandemic.

When we act with urgency, dealing with this crisis, we have to do

everything possible to make decisions that include the health and safety

of everyone that is involved. Of course, we have to prioritize keeping

people alive, and that will sometimes require difficult decisions,

including — and I will say it again — the limited use of compassionate

involuntary treatment.

The time has come to bring forward legislation allowing

involuntary treatment for our most vulnerable. As we know, the current

Premier of British Columbia called for that during his campaign to

become the leader of this province. The people who are at risk of harm

to themselves and others need us to make bold decisions. Not

institutionalizing or warehousing people, but keeping them safe and

providing them with modernized, compassionate care, which includes

intensive 24-7 psychiatric and medical supports.

We have all said it over and over. Involuntary care should always

be a last resort. But there are situations, we believe, where it is

necessary for the health of the individual and those people around them.

The issue is complex, emotional and challenging, but we have a

responsibility to British Columbians to be prepared to have those tough

conversations that will ultimately lead to a better system of care and,

most importantly, improved results.

While prevention, early intervention and treatment must be the

main focus, it is time to include involuntary care in our response. With

bold, new action and a new approach, I am convinced that better is

possible.

S. Bond moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. J. Whiteside moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. today.

The House adjourned at 12:03 p.m.

Copyright © 2023 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Official Report of Debates (Hansard) and webcasts of

chamber proceedings are available at www.leg.bc.ca .

For inquiries contact:

Hansard Services

612 Government Street

Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Telephone: 250-387-3681

Email: hansardservices@leg.bc.ca

Published by Hansard Services under the authority

of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.