While he argued previously that municipalities already have tools to address public drug use, the premier says he’s heard from some mayors that those tools are not as effective as they could be
Premier David Eby has offered support to municipalities passing bylaws banning drug use in public parks, playgrounds and beaches, saying he will work with them on their “shared goal” to create safer and healthier communities.
An increasing number of municipalities, including Campbell River, are creating bylaws to ban public drug use in places such as sports fields and bus shelters, after the province brought in a three-year trial decriminalizing possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use, starting Jan. 31.
Some are calling for a province-wide ban on drug use in public areas.
While he argued previously that municipalities already have tools to address public drug use — including noise and nuisance bylaws and laws against public intoxication — Eby said he’s heard from some mayors that those tools are not as effective “as we would like them to be and there’s an opportunity for the province to provide additional support.”
“I’m certainly glad to do that,” Eby said during a climate-change announcement in Richmond on Monday. “We have a shared commitment with local governments, with police to ensure safe communities for all British Columbians and to make sure we’re responding to the opioid crisis — the toxic drug crisis we’re seeing — responsibly while supporting people that need that support.”
Eby committed to working with local governments through Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth to identify the issues “and put those rules in place so that we can ensure safe communities for everybody.”
The toxic drug crisis — declared a public health emergency in 2016 — is a longstanding issue, said Eby.
“So finding solutions that will be effective and lasting is critical,” he said. “Rushing to a solution that does not address the core issue or the concerns faced by local governments or has unintended impacts in terms of people’s health or community health or safety is not where we want to go.”
Eby said provincial and local governments need to ensure they are not putting people struggling with addiction at greater risk of overdose and death, “that we’re giving them a chance to get into treatment and to deal with the addiction that they’re struggling with.”
