►
From YouTube: JUNE 1 2021 Question Period
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
C
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
numbers
are
staggering.
This
time
it's
176
overdose
deaths
in
the
month
of
april,
the
worst
april,
ever
nearly
six
deaths
every
single
day.
This
is
a
43
percent
increase
over
last
year.
Overdose
deaths
continue
to
shatter
records
every
single
month
and
yet
month
after
month,
we
get
the
same
words
from
this
premier.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
thank
you
to
the
leader
of
the
opposition
for
the
question
that
these
tragic
spikes
are
happening
across
the
country
is
a
tragedy
to
all
the
families
that
have
lost
loved
ones
and
everybody.
That's
worked
so
hard
on
the
front
lines
to
save
lives,
fighting
two
public
health
emergencies.
At
the
same
time,
I
absolutely
had
hoped
that
the
coroner's
numbers
would
be
lower
would
represent
a
decrease
in
lives,
loss
to
a
toxic
drug
supply,
and
it
is
another
setback
and
particularly
for
those
working
on
the
street
to
save
lives.
A
The
peers,
I
think,
have
particularly
who
are
losing
community
members,
but
you
know
everybody
in
the
province,
I'm
so
sorry
we
have
an
expanded
in
every
way.
Overdose
response.
What
might
have
been
had?
We
not
had
these
measures
in
place
when
the
pandemic
hit.
We
will
not
know,
although
we
do
know
that
in
the
year
2019
the
measures
british
columbia
had
brought
into
place,
doubling
the
number
of
supervised
consumption
sites
introducing
or
expanding
access
to
a
medication-assisted
treatment.
A
Expanded
access
to
naloxone
had
brought
down
overdose
deaths
for
the
first
time
since
the
public
health
emergency
was
declared.
I
would
say
to
the
member's
question:
we
are
continue
to
expand
our
overdose
response
in
every
way.
There
are
more
nurse
prescribers
being
trained.
There
are,
are
more
people
taking
up
safer
supply
or
continuing
to
have
conversations
with
the
federal
government
to
grant
the
section
56
exemption
to
decriminalize
simple
possession
of
illicit
drugs
as
a
way
to
combat
stigma,
but
most
significantly
our
budget
contribution.
A
Historic
investment
in
mental
health
and
addictions
is
the
big
change
from
last
month's
corners
report.
Half
a
billion
dollars
is
more
than
this
province
has
ever
spent
it's
going
to
have
impact
and
working
together
we
can
save
lives.
C
C
C
C
We
offered
to
work
together
on
this
issue
and
the
minister
can
be
as
chirpy
as
he
wants
about
this.
It
is
devastating
what
is
going
on
in
british
columbia,
and
it
is
time
for
this
government
to
stand
up
work
together
with
the
opposition
parties
and
actually
do
something
more
than
half
of
the
deaths
are
occurring
in
private
residences.
C
What
is
needed
more
than
ever
are
affordable
and
accessible
treatment
options.
So
the
premier
has
an
opportunity
today
to
stand
up
and
take
immediate
steps
to
ensure
that
those
living
with
addictions
will
get
the
help
they
need
not
based
on
their
ability
to
pay,
but
based
solely
on
their
need
for
treatment.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
We
are
the
only
province
in
canada,
significantly
scaling
up
our
response
to
the
overdose
crisis
again,
for
you
know
anybody
listening
who
hasn't
heard
this
already
the
drug
supply,
the
illicit
street
drug
supply
is
increasingly
toxic
and
because-
and
that
is
something
borne
out
in
the
coroner's
reports,
and
that
more
people
are
staying
home
using
a
loan
is
also
has
led
to
a
terrible
surge
in
overdose
deaths
and
to
those
who
have
lost
loved
ones.
A
Family
members,
team,
members,
I'm
so
sorry,
we
are
expanding
in
in
every
way
more
treatment
beds.
We
just
added
100
new,
publicly
funded
treatment
beds
in
every
health
authority
across
the
province.
A
A
I,
the
solutions
that
we
are
pursuing
are
coming
from
the
grassroots,
from
the
front
line
of
those
in
healthcare
system
working
in
to
end
the
overdose
crisis
and
we'll
continue
to
draw
our
lessons
from
people
that
are
in
the
field
led
by
our
overdose
response
center.
I'm
grateful
for
everybody's
work
in
this
regard.
D
Guy
felicella
is
a
well-known
harm
reduction
and
recovery
addict
in
vancouver,
as
he
said
just
yesterday,
and
I
quote:
we
talk
about
solutions
to
the
overdose
crisis,
but
never
see
them
attached.
The
result
is
just
continues
to
worsen
with
covet
19.
We
see
immediate
response,
not
all
public
health
emergencies
are
equal
and
quote.
D
It
was
the
worst
april
on
record.
The
death
rate
is
six
a
day
and
it's
striking
people
all
across
the
province.
So
the
words
from
this
government
from
this
premier
from
this
minister
are
not
cutting
it
and
unfortunately
we
are
seeing
the
results
month
after
month.
My
question
is
to
the
premier:
will
he
take
action?
Will
he
help
the
people
right
now?
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
answer
is
yes.
There
has
never
been
more
funding
put
into
overdose
response.
There
has
never
been
such
an
expansion
of
services
that
we
are
have
a
year
ago
stood
up
safe
supply
just
weeks
into
the
pandemic.
That
there's
been
a
400
percent
increase
in
the
number
of
people
taking
six
prescribe
safe
supply
as
a
way
to
separate
them
from
the
tragic
toxicity.
That's
increased
during
covet
we're
the
only
province
in
canada.
That's
doing
this
that
we
have
doubled
the
number
of
overdose
prevention
sites.
A
Since
we
formed
government
in
2017
is
saving
lives.
There
hasn't
been
a
single
fatal
overdose
at
a
supervised
consumption
site
that
we
have
added
already
this
year,
100
new,
publicly
funded
treatment
and
recovery
beds
that
we
are
doubling
youth
treatment
beds
unprecedented
in
british
columbia's
history
that
in
this
budget,
2021
unprecedented
half
a
billion
dollars
going
into
mental
health
and
addictions.
One
of
the
things
that
it
will
fund
is
another
195,
publicly
funded
treatment
beds.
Is
there
more
to
do
absolutely?
Is
the
loss
of
life
tragic
and
heartbreaking?
A
Absolutely.
I
am
I'm
appreciative
of
the
support
across
the
the
aisle
for
our
budget
and
for
our
efforts
and-
and
we
will
continue
to
work
hard
with
all
parties
on
the
ground
to
expand,
supports
and
save
lives.
D
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
just
to
the
minister's
last
point.
The
the
letter
that
we
received
from
the
premier
completely
contradicts
the
the
sentiments
that
the
minister
just
expressed.
D
D
They
have
to
choose
between
food,
supporting
their
families
or
getting
help.
And
mr
speaker,
that's
wrong.
We've
asked
before
and
with
a
record
month
for
deaths,
we'll
ask
again:
will
the
premier
convict
commit
to
investing
a
seamless,
mental
health
and
addiction
system
that
eliminates
barriers
and
ensures
people
get
the
help
they
need
when
they
need
it?.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
answer
is
yes,
that's
the
work
that
we're
doing
that's
the
work
laid
out
by
my
predecessor,
the
former,
the
first
in
canada,
minister
for
mental
health
and
addictions.
Judy
darcy
worked
with
british
columbians
across
the
province.
That
is
where
we're
getting
our
wisdom
on
this
work,
to
build
a
pathway
to
hope.
As
dr
bonnie
henry
said,
when
we
formed
government
in
2017,
there
was
no
system
of
care
for
mental
health
and
addictions,
and
so
we
are
working
hard
every
day
to
build
it
up.
A
While
now
fighting
to
public
health
emergencies,
the
investments
that
we've
made
to
date
are
unprecedented
and
they
are
not
enough.
That
lives
are
still
being
lost,
is
testament
to
the
work
that
continues
to
be
necessary,
the
work
that
we
continue
to
be
committed
to
and
if
the
solutions
were
in
this
legislature
or
in
committees,
I
think
we
would
have
the
salt
already,
but
the
toxicity
of
the
drug
supply
is
is
killing
people
every
day
in
every
corner
of
the
continent.
E
Speaker
yesterday,
in
my
response
to
the
ministerial
statement
about
the
kamloops
residential
school,
I
noted
the
impact
of
provincial
and
federal
government
policies
to
dispossess
indigenous
people
of
their
lands
and
resources.
In
my
riding,
the
list
is
exhausted.
Victoria
airport
lands
were
taken
as
part
of
the
war
effort.
The
satanics
were
told
those
lands
would
be
used
for
an
airfield
and
returned
following
the
war
decades
later,
they're
engaged
in
a
seemingly
endless
frustration
with
local
authorities
and
the
federal
government.
E
E
F
Well,
thank
you-
and
I
thank
you
through
you,
mr
speaker,
the
member
for
saanich
north
and
the
islands,
and
absolutely
eloquent
statement
that
he
made
yesterday
on
this
tragedy.
What
specifically
we
are
doing
is
what
I
believe:
judith
sayers,
the
president
of
the
challenge
tribal
council
called
on
us
to
do.
She
asked
for
us
to
seek
financial,
emotional,
spiritual
and
educational
support
from
the
federal
government
and
work
with
the
first
nations
and
the
churches
and
other
interested
groups
to
address
this
issue.
F
I've
said
from
the
outset,
mr
speaker,
that
it's
important
for
our
government
to
work
in
lockstep
with
the
indigenous
nations
concerned
and
follow
their
lead
because
in
each
part
of
the
province,
the
response
to
this
tragedy
and
the
emotional
upset
that
no
doubt
it
has
triggered
will
be
something
that
each
each
nation
will
express
on
its
own.
So
there
is
no
simple
answer
to
this,
but
we
are
committed
to
taking
those
steps
and
working
with
them.
I've
spoken
with
cook
b,
casimir
of
the
to
come
loops,
cervecnik
people
specifically
about
that.
F
E
Mr
speaker
and
thank
you
to
the
minister
for
the
response,
reconciling
the
indus
injustices
at
the
hands
of
crown
governments
is
not
a
partisan
effort.
Mr
speaker,
we
have
seen.
No
political
party
in
this
province
has
been
proven,
has
proven
willing
or
able
to
do
what's
expected
or
necessary.
E
As
long
as
we
remain
divided
by
these
two
sword
lengths
in
our
effort,
our
work
will
be
fragmented
and
it
will
be
fragile.
Yesterday
the
premier
boasted
that
his
ministers
in
his
government
all
have
words
in
their
mandate.
Letters
well,
it's
necessary
to
remind
the
premier
that
they
are
our
ministers,
and
this
is
our
government
and
as
long
as
the
premier
can
stand
here
and
try
to
take
a
victory
lap
when
our
relatives,
our
constituents,
all
the
con
representatives
here
have
constituents
are
hurting
like
this.
E
E
We
have
the
power
to
require
witnesses,
to
compel
testimony
to
interrogate,
to
dig
to
recommend
change.
However,
rather
than
truly
work
collaboratively
like
we're
doing
in
the
police
act,
and
that
is
good
work,
that's
happening
in
the
police
act.
This
government
has
chosen
to
keep
this
important
work
to
themselves
and
behind
closed
doors,
as
british
columbians
can
now
see
in
plain
sight
that
there
is
a
lot
that
this
committee
could
have
been
and
could
be
doing
through
you,
mr
speaker,
to
the
minister
of
indigenous
relations
and
reconciliation.
E
F
Thank
you,
mr
speaker,
and
through
you
to
the
member.
I
believe
that
my
record,
in
serving
in
a
non-partisan
capacity
in
this
regard,
speaks
for
itself.
My
door
is
open
to
any
member
who
wishes
to
speak
on
issues
of
this
importance,
because
the
member
is
entirely
accurate.
This
is
not
a
partisan
issue
in
any
way
shape
or
form.
Every
single
member
in
the
legislature
stood
up
and
supported
our
commitment,
our
joint
commitment
to
the
declaration
of
the
rights
of
indigenous
people,
which
is
a
pathway,
but
only
one
step
along
this
important
road
to
reconciliation.
F
I
will
work
with
any
member,
mr
speaker,
who
wishes
to
bring
to
my
attention
issues
where
we
can
work
and,
of
course,
working
closely
with
federal
ministers
and
others
responsible
to
make
sure
we
can
make
lasting
change
in
this
province
as
we
deconstruct
colonialism,
the
legacy
of
colonialism,
which,
of
course
includes
the
cultural
genocide
which
is
the
legacy
of
residential
schools.
We
have
a
lot
of
work
to
do
together,
but
to
the
ministers
to
the
members
point
specifically
that
work
is
nonpartisan,
and
I
welcome
the
spirit
in
which
his
question
was
asked.
G
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
I
couldn't
help
but
listen
to
the
minister
in
her
last
response
to
my
colleague
here
on
mental
health,
say
in
2017,
there
was
no
system
of
care
in
place
no
system
of
care.
Well,
I'm
sure
that
dr
perry,
kendall
and
dr
bonnie
henry
will
not
appreciate
that
comment.
G
We
established
the
bc
liberal
government
established
the
bc
center
on
substance,
use.
They
provided
mass
distribution
of
naloxone
and
substitution
therapy
such
as
suboxone,
and
they
set
up
the
foundry
network
for
youth,
which
I
hear
over
and
over
from
the
current
government.
Talking
about
how
fabulous
that
is.
So
there
was
a
lot
going
on
in
2017
and
the
minister
can
talk
about
all
of
the
money
and
all
of
the
resources
that
have
been
put
in
since
then,
but
it's
obviously
not
working
if
it
was
working.
G
Mr
speaker,
we
would
not
be
standing
here
time
after
time
after
time
talking
about
the
deaths
that
we
are
seeing
from
these
overdoses,
from
children
from
adults
across
british
columbia.
So
you
can
applaud
yourselves.
All
you
want.
It
is
not
working.
Another
youth
has
died
of
an
overdose
death
in
british
columbia.
G
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
My
heart
goes
out
to
another
vancouver
island
family
who's
lost
a
loved
one
that
we
have.
Such
young
people
falling
to
the
increasingly
toxic
drug
supply
is
a
tragedy
and
I'm
sorry
to
their
friends
and
family.
A
We
are
still
learning
on
what
was
at
the
root
of
of
this
overdose
that
was
reported
yesterday
in
campbell
river
and
and
I
will
learn
from
the
investigation,
which
will
inevitably
happen.
This
is
part
of
the
process
when
there
is
the
death
of
a
child
and
we'll
learn
what
services
were
offered
and
where
the
gaps
are,
as
we
continue
to
build
up
our
system
of
care,
to
quote
the
bc
representative
for
children
and
youth.
A
Last
month,
she
said
quote:
government
is
making
significant
investments,
but
it's
on
the
backdrop
of
a
system
that
was
woefully
inadequate
prior
that
that
we
don't
have
this.
The
supports
in
place
yet
that
are
saving
lives
is
is
is
no
evidenced
by
the
number
of
people
that
are
continuing
to
die,
so
the
work
that
we
are
doing
almost
97
million
dollars
that
has
just
been
committed
to
building
up
systems
of
mental
health
and
addiction,
support
and
substance
use.
A
Support
for
young
people
in
particularly
in
particular,
is
at
the
foundation
of
pathway
to
hope,
building
out
integrated
child
and
youth
teams
in
in
the
comox
regional
district.
Sorry,
the
comox
school
district
to
to
add
mental
health
and
substance
use
practitioners
to
support
families
and
children.
Our
budget
commitment
of
40
million
dollars
just
last
month
to
add
350
new
mental
health
and
substance
use
practitioners
in
up
to
now
20
school
districts
across
british
columbia.
A
Trying
to
get
at
those
supports
and
prevent
small
problems
from
turning
into
big
ones,
and
our
doubling
of
youth
treatment
bets
will
all
work
towards
the
aim
of
getting
young
people
the
treatment
and
the
support
that
they
need
when
and
where
they
need
it.
That's
the
work
that
we
are
doing
every
day.
G
You,
mr
speaker,
the
pathway
to
hope,
seems
to
be
an
aspirational
document
at
this
point
because
it
has
not
made
the
difference.
It
needs
to
be
made
with
the
tragic
death
of
12
year
old,
elia
thomas
the
government
promised,
and
I
quote,
to
do
more
and
do
better.
But
here
we
are
again
the
supports
offered
by
the
premier
weren't
enough
then,
and
they
aren't
enough
now.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
With
respect
to
the
member,
I
note
that
her
party's
election
platform
committed
only
one
quarter
of
what
our
government
did
in
the
october
election
platform.
That
was
a
fraction
of
the
commitment
that
that
we
are
putting
into
place
and
young
people
are
at
the
foundation
of
it.
A
That
we
are
still
losing
lives
is
tragic
that
we
are
working
hard
every
day
to
build
up
that
system
of
care
where
there
was
an
inadequate
one
before
is
evidenced
by
the
size
of
the
historic
budget,
commitment
that
we've
made
for
anybody.
That's
out
there,
that's
listening.
There
are
supports
for
you.
I
don't
want
there
to
be
any
mischaracterization
that
there
are
not
supports
in
place.
A
Are
they
keeping
up
with
the
increasingly
toxic
drug
supply?
Clearly
not,
and
that
is
heartbreaking
news,
but
if
you
are
in
are,
if
you
are
struggling
with
mental
health
or
addictions,
whether
you
are
young
or
old,
there
are
supports
for
you
on
vancouver
island
alone,
five
new,
urgent
primary
care
centers,
which
offer
seven
day
week,
walk-in
mental
health
and
substance
use,
counseling,
12,
child
and
youth
mental
health
clinic
intakes
on
vancouver
island
alone.
H
Mr
speaker,
youth
and
families
that
have
lost
loved
ones
deserve
action.
Now,
that's
a
line
that
we've
been
hearing
a
lot
over
the
last
few
years
in
this
chamber
last
month.
The
premier
was
adamant
that
safe
care
legislation
was
coming,
and
I
quote,
we
will
bring
back
the
bill,
we
will
step
in
and
we
will
help
people
who
need
help.
End
quote:
when
will
the
premier
be
introducing
legislation
that
helps
parents
and
families.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
We've
heard
from
families
who
have
lost
loved
ones
have
lost
children
who
say
that
stabilization
following
an
overdose
might
have
helped
might
have
saved
their
children's
life,
might
have
helped
connect
them
to
the
addictions,
treatment
and
mental
health
counseling
that
they
needed.
That's
something
that
we
have
heard
and
that
I
continue
to
hear
from
from
british
columbians
and
we
remain
committed
to
protecting
youth
in
the
aftermath
of
an
overdose.
H
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
I've
continued
to
hear
from
people
indigenous
leaders,
families
about
of
their
advice
and
views
on
stabilization
care.
We
have
not
conducted
consultation.
As
I've
said
every
time
I've
been
asked
in
the
house
are
my
focus
and
focus
of
my
ministry
has
been
on
building
up.
The
voluntary
supports
that
we
heard
last
summer
are
needed
and
we
continue
to
hear
from
families
are
needed,
and
so
the
building
up
more
voluntary
supports
will
aid
those
complex
conversations
about
how
to
move
forward
with
the
legislation
and
that
consultation
is
ahead
of
us.
A
We've
been
working
with
first
nations
health
authority
about
how
to
design
those
conversations
in
indigenous
communities
and
and
throughout
the
sector.
I
will
take
the
opportunity,
though,
mr
speaker,
just
to
clarify
again
that
what
we're
talking
about
is
stabilization
care.
It
is
not
forced
treatment.
A
It
is
very
different
from
the
safe
care
act
that
the
opposition
proposed
in
the
past
very
different
from
the
legislation
that
is
in
british,
that
is
in
place
in
alberta.
It's
a
this
is
a
health
care
issue.
Addiction
is
a
health
care
issue,
and
the
legislation
that
we
will
table
in
the
future
will
reflect
that.
This
is
not
a
criminal
issue.
We
will
not
be
advancing
forced
treatment.
F
Mr
speaker,
well,
the
question
was
about
what
consultation
was
done
on
the
piece
of
legislation
this
government
introduced
and
then
pulled
back,
because
they
had
not
consulted
properly
with
indigenous
communities
and
that's
going
on
a
year.
Now
indigenous
people
continue
to
be
disproportionately
represented
in
the
overdose
numbers,
while
accounting
for
just
over
3
percent
of
bc's
population,
almost
15
percent
of
all
overdose
deaths
last
year
were
indigenous
first
nations.
Women
are
almost
10
times
as
likely
to
die
from
an
overdose.
In
fact,
the
first
nations
report
that
came
out
last
week
showed
254.
F
First
nations
people
died
last
year,
more
than
double
the
year
before
so
again
to
the
minister.
What
consultations
have
been
taking
place
over
the
last
year
and
if
they
haven't
been
taking
place,
why
have
they
not
been
taking
place?
Time
is
wasting.
First
nations
need
to
be
properly
consulted
on
this
critical
issue.
A
Thank
you,
mr
speaker.
The
devastating
losses,
particularly
in
indigenous
communities,
are
how
are
felt
in
every
corner
of
the
province,
and
these
are
our
friends,
our
family,
our
community
members
and
the
report
from
first
nations.
Health
authority,
summarizing
the
loss
of
life
and
overdose
deaths
just
last
week
is
is
devastating
and
it
is
an
indictment
of
the
racism
that
remains
embedded
within
our
our
society,
our
justice
system
and
our
health
care
system.
It's
it's
work.
We
are
determined
as
a
government
to
root
out
the
approach.
A
Last
summer,
around
and
building
up
to
the
introduction
of
bill
22
was
to
work
with
the
first
nations
health
authority.
That
is
the
health
delivery
organization
that
is
by
and
for
indigenous
people.
We
have
a
a
tripartite
agreement,
federal,
provincial
and
and
first
nations
health
authority
agreement
that
directs
how
we
work
we'll
work
together,
and
when
we
pick
up
the
work
with
stabilization
care
legislation
under
my
tenure,
then
it
will
again
be
with
first
nations
health
authority
and
they're
helping
us
design
that
work.
A
We
have
made
vital
investments
to
support
indigenous
lead
responses
to
the
overdose
crisis
that
includes
nasal
naloxone
for
first
nations,
communities
prescribed
safer
supply
programs
through
first
nations,
health
authority's
virtual
substance,
use
and
psychiatry
services,
and
we
are
funding
with
first
nations
health
authority,
reconstruction
of
first
nations,
addiction,
treatment
and
recovery
healing
centers
and
also
investing
in
their
land-based
healing
solutions.
A
It's
a
the
only
way
out
of
this
crisis
is
working
together.
I
just
spoke
this
morning
with
the
first
nations
health
council
and
first
nations
health
authority
about
the
path
forward
and
our
determination
to
work
together.