Vancouver Mayor Won’t Let BC’s Premier Forget Thousands Killed by Overdoses

As we now know thanks to endless post-vote explainers, British Columbia's election results are subject to revision over the next few weeks as absentee ballots roll in and riding recounts likely get underway. But as long-ruling Premier Christy Clark put it on election night, whatever comes next will be "something really different" than what came before.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is ready for something different, as he's openly unhappy with what came before. BC often takes credit for being on the leading edge of drug addiction research and policy, but lately, Robertson has been throwing some shade on that reputation. Over the last several months, the City of Vancouver has been sending out press releases in increasingly urgent tones, recounting the growing intensity of the overdose epidemic and asking for more action to save lives.

Whatever shape the new BC legislature does take, Vancouver's mayor won't let leaders forget the thousands who have died of drug overdoses on Premier Christy Clark's watch. As the Georgia Straight first reported, there have been some 2,368 overdose deaths since Clark was last elected, not including ODs from last month. The last week of April—the second last week of the election—turned out to be the deadliest week of 2017 so far in Vancouver, and emergency calls are still growing month over month. Now, after a tight election race that saw opioids mostly take a backseat on the campaign trail, Robertson spoke to VICE about what he expects from whoever takes the reigns of this new government.

When asked to asses Clark's record on the opioid crisis, Robertson said her government failed to live up to the commitments of a public health emergency declared more than a year ago. "I think the fact that over 1,000 people have died since the BC government declared a provincial health emergency shows the response was nowhere near what's needed," he said. "There were solid efforts on harm reduction and opening overdose prevention sites—led primarily by community volunteers—but the critical response for more treatment on demand and substitution therapy is still lagging."

Vancouver continues to be ground zero in Canada for overdoses. Resources are so strained, Robertson says city police and firefighters are standing in as caseworkers trying to find better options for deeply addicted residents. "When someone with addictions asks our first responders or health care providers for treatment they should get immediate action, and access to whatever treatment keeps them safe and alive," he told VICE. "Right now we're seeing huge waiting lists, and our police and firefighters have been struggling to refer people to treatment options."

Robertson has pushed for expansion of substitution therapies like suboxone as well as a prescription program that has been providing a small group of entrenched users who have not responded to other treatment with safe, medical-grade heroin. BC Greens, who now hold the balance of power in the legislature, are the only party to throw full support behind prescription heroin. The NDP and BC Liberals have agreed to review it.

If Clark does form a minority government, she will have to contend with new NDP members in some hard-hit Metro Vancouver suburbs including Delta, Maple Ridge, Burnaby and Surrey.

Robertson acknowledged these neighbouring municipalities have not been as quick to take up harm reduction causes, and still largely rely on under regulated recovery homes. But he saves his anger for the provincial and federal levels of government, rather than pointing at fellow mayors, and cautions against being to "prescriptive" about recovery. "There are many treatment and recovery options that work, and we need all of them available."

He also acknowledges a need to look well beyond even the field of health care to turn around the crisis. Echoing promises of Clark's opposition, Robertson pointed to the need to fill gaps in BC's frayed social safety net. "It's essential to take a broader approach with prevention and education for young people and with supportive housing and increased welfare rates."

New Democrats have pledged to increase welfare and disability rates by $100 and $200 a month respectively, after over ten years of the same. BC Greens would like to see billions spent on prevention through school supports and youth mental health programs.

Robertson recognizes he'll have a few more allies in the legislature, but that doesn't mean he's ready to back down. "This entire crisis has exposed that BC and Canada do not have an effective system for addictions healthcare," he told me. "The lack of that system is laid bare and we have to turn that around immediately."

"If this many deaths doesn't catalyze BC and the Canadian government to get serious about healthcare for mental health and addictions, I don't know what will."

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