Mental Health & Addictions

Across BC, local governments are taking action to maintain public safety and address mental health and addiction issues. Every year the UBCM Convention plenary session delves into an issue being faced by all local governments, rural, urban and in between. This year the focus is the complex intersection of the toxic drug crisis, public use concerns and the impacts on communities, and their police, fire departments, and other local first responders. UBCM spent 5 minutes with one panelist, the CAO of Fort St. John Milo MacDonald to learn more.

UBCM will no longer seek intervenor status on a court case between the provincial government and the Harm Reduction Nurses Association (HRNA) concerning Bill 34, Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act.

The federal government has approved the Province of BC’s request to further control consumption of illicit drugs in public spaces. The change took place immediately as of May 7, 2024. Possession of small amounts of illicit drugs is still permitted.

Homelessness is a serious and growing issue in BC, and local governments are seeing firsthand the need for more shelter spaces, affiliated social services, and bolstered first responder capacity. The UBCM Executive is meeting with the Premier, Ministers, and opposition MLAs to discuss these issues, and look for constructive solutions.

 

The Union of B.C. Municipalities intends to apply to the B.C. Supreme Court for intervenor status in a lawsuit brought against the Province of B.C. by the Harm Reduction Nurses Association challenging the legality of the Province’s Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act.

The act, which received Royal Assent in November 2023 but which has not yet been brought into force, bans the use of illicit drugs in certain public and recreation-focused spaces including:

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is evaluating the implementation of the decriminalization policy. Elected officials and senior local government staff who can speak on behalf of their local government are invited to provide feedback by March 15 about the implementation of the decriminalization policy from a local government perspective.

As BC’s decriminalization pilot project reaches the end of its first year, local governments continue to support this initiative as one tool to address the toxic drug crisis. However, recent developments in BC courts leave local governments unclear where public use of illicit drugs will be allowed.

 

The provincial government has introduced legislation to regulate the use of illicit drugs in public areas. The legislation responds to concerns raised by BC local governments at the 2023 UBCM convention and throughout the decriminalization pilot from its inception.

With the new provincial legislation, a person may not consume illegal substances:

The BC government has announced amendments to its decriminalization policy. As of Monday, September 18, the possession of illicit drugs within 15 metres of any play structure in a playground, a spray or wading pool, or a skate park will be prohibited. The Province also advised they are planning to introduce provincial legislation to further regulate public drug use in Fall 2023.

Local governments who wish to provide feedback to the Province on potential provincial legislation to regulate the use of drugs in public spaces must submit comments by July 31. Download then email the written feedback form to Ministry staff. If possible, please send a copy of your comments in the form to UBCM staff.