Image: A needle found laying in a park. / File / Pattison Media

By MLA Mike de Jong, Abbotsford West

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: NDP’s so-called “safe supply” is endangering communities

May 1, 2024 | 8:00 AM

David Eby’s dangerous experiment to decriminalize and normalize hard drug use has devastated lives and shattered communities.

For the last 15 months, our BC United Caucus has relentlessly pressured the NDP to scrap their reckless decriminalization experiment, calling attention to the rapid increase of open drug use that has occurred. Nurses in every corner of British Columbia have bravely spoken out and shared their stories about daily encounters with open drug use in hospitals that have impacted both the safety of patients and health care professionals.

Despite the litany of negative consequences stemming from decriminalization, on April 26, Eby doubled down on his efforts to continue decriminalization at the expense of public safety. It was announced that B.C. had asked the federal government to impose Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to restrict public drug use – a measure that should have already been restricted. However, Eby would not commit to scrapping the decriminalization experiment.

Throughout the announcement, David Eby refused to accept blame for the harms caused by decriminalization and has instead chosen a path that reverses the onus back onto police without providing them the tools necessary to address drug use and steer them towards treatment and recovery; services that the NDP has failed to rapidly increase to meet escalating demand.

Furthermore, the NDP did not address the normalization of illicit drugs that has been caused by decriminalization. This has been a gift to drug traffickers, who have been taking advantage of the NDP’s so-called “safe supply” program by flooding the market and slashing the street value of hydromorphone by 95 percent – all funded by B.C. taxpayers.

High-risk sex offender

Surrey Police warn public about high-risk sex offender living in the community

41m ago

Family Day event

District of Kent to hold free Family Day activities this weekend

2h ago

Traffic stop

23-year-old Mission man sorry for fleeing from police after Mounties conduct safety check

3h ago

Our BC United Caucus was shocked to discover online platforms selling illicit drugs like MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine are now directly targeting B.C. Facebook users with flashy and enticing ads. Pills on this website are being marketed directly to youth as candy with names such as “Molly Gummy Bears,” “Blue Dolphin Pill,” “Homer Simpson Pill,” and “Mickey Mouse Pill.”

The NDP’s mission to destigmatize drug use has inadvertently made it easier for drug exploitation. In fact, these websites even market illicit substances as “safe supply,” blatantly exploiting the lack of enforcement and regulatory oversight under the NDP.

It’s time for B.C. to have a government that will crack down on crime and prioritize public safety – especially when to comes to our children. BC United is committed to providing free treatment over free drugs by scrapping David Eby’s reckless decriminalization experiment in favour of implementing a recovery-oriented system of care.

We will do this through BC United’s “Better is Possible” plan that, if Kevin Falcon is elected Premier, will be implemented to eliminate user fees at publicly funded addiction treatment beds and provide direct government funding for privately operated beds. By taking these steps, we can ensure no one faces financial barriers to treatment.

In addition, we will also increase complex mental health supports and prioritize awareness and prevention, so that youth are aware of the dangers of illicit substances.

The damages caused by the NDP’s failed drug policies can be felt across the province, and it’s time for B.C. to get back on track.

United, we will fix it.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.