A provide-wide call to tackle public safety and the mental health and addictions crisis is about “extending a hand and helping make a difference” says Kelowna’s mayor.
Tom Dyas joined mayors from 10 other municipalities, and representatives from Lower Mainland First Nations and law enforcement groups in Vancouver on Monday (Sept. 16) demanding action from the federal government.
The coalition has three priorities, including provincial mandatory care with federal support.
“It’s not about restricting their freedoms,” Dyas said in an interview with Black Press Media. “There are many individuals within our community who are fighting battles with mental health and addictions without enough care for them to be treated properly.”
On Sept. 15, Premier David Eby announced the NDP will open facilities (over 400 beds) to provide involuntary care under the Mental Health Act for those with severe addictions who are mentally ill and have sustained a brain injury.
Dyas noted the province needs substantially more beds.
“Our region alone could probably use about half of that,” he said.
Eby announced that the first site will open at the Alouette Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge, and there are plans to expand throughout the province. Dyas said there is a correctional facility in the Okanagan that might be suitable.
“That’s probably going to be an ask for us moving forward into discussions,” he added.
The coalition also asked for bail reform in dealing with repeat property crime offenders.
“We have substantial occurrences of that in our community,” Dyas said, referring to the 20 offenders responsible for more than 3,500 RCMP files in Kelowna. “We know these are unsheltered individuals.”
The mayor added there may be options to combine bail reform and involuntary care.
“Potentially…to see if these same individuals are in need of the care we’re speaking of in the first priority.”
Dyas said municipalities are limited in what they can do to address individuals suffering from mental health and substance issues and pointed out that senior government needs to do its part.
“That is the Mental Health Act provincially, and federally legislation that changes the laws around repeated offenders…so the RCMP can deal with them appropriately and it’s not a continual hamster wheel with them going into court and the court putting them back on our streets.”
The third priority for the coalition calls for a federal plan to secure B.C. ports to stop the flow of illicit drugs from and the export of stolen vehicles.
