Candidates talk toxic drugs

With the provincial election approaching, Castanet Kamloops sat down with the candidates in the Kamloops Centre and Kamloops-North Thompson ridings to ask about the ongoing opioid crisis in B.C.

Toxic drugs continue to claim a record number of lives, with more than 15,000 fatal overdoses across B.C., including more than 500 deaths in Kamloops, since the province declared a provincial health emergency in 2016.

We asked the candidates what should be done to address the crisis.

Kamloops Centre

BC NDP candidate Kamal Grewal said people addicted to drugs need to be provided a full spectrum of services, which the government is doing.

She said the NDP have added 650 mental health beds across the province and has plans to add even more if given another term.

“I think that's one of the approach that we have to continue working on,” Grewal said.

“There's a lot of work. It's not a crisis that can be solved quickly, but it is a crisis that requires empathy, compassion and, at the same time, intelligence to make sure that we're keeping people safe and alive in order to provide them with an opportunity to seek help when they're ready.”

She also said the Conservatives' plan to close safe consumption sites is going to make the issue worse.

B.C. Conservative candidate Peter Milobar said there needs to be tougher punishments for drug dealers and faster pathways to drug treatment for people seeking voluntary care.

“If we had the services and the treatment options available for people so they can access them quickly and not have to worry about second and third mortgages on their homes to do that — catch them before they get into the condition — that would lessen a lot of the impacts we're seeing, and it would lessen a lot of the deaths we're seeing,” Milobar said.

BC Green candidate Randy Sunderman said B.C. needs to get on top of providing wraparound services for people with addiction issues.

“We continue to have a clunky system that has not supported people on their full path in that absolute continuum,” Sunderman said, noting a key part of the Green Party platform is to improve access to mental health services.

Kamloops-North Thompson

BC Green candidate Tristan Cavers said he feels B.C. needs to enhance its safe supply model, but that will not be enough, adding people need to be housed and receive addiction treatment when they need it without having to deal with a waitlist.

B.C. Conservative candidate Ward Stamer said the province needs to focus its efforts on people dealing drugs and in possession of them on the street.

“Our party is going to be very tough on crime — particularly with drugs,” Stamer said.

“And if you have more than whatever that small little bit amount that you have, you're going to be punished.”

BC NDP candidate Maddi Genn said ensuring wraparound supports are provided to people will help curb the overdose crisis.

“There’s a lot of indirect things that will have a direct positive impact,” Genn said.

She said she hopes to bring her experience in the healthcare field to Victoria to advise for supports that make people in Kamloops-North Thompson feel safe.