City of Powell River Council will be considering action on the opioid crisis.
At the January 17 committee of the whole meeting, councillors reviewed a letter from City of Kamloops mayor Ken Christian, who asked that the City of Powell River ask the government of Canada to address the overdose crisis.
Councillor George Doubt said the letter requested that BC municipalities make a motion to ask the government of Canada to address the overdose crisis. Doubt said he would like to make a motion that council write a similar letter to the federal government to address the overdose crisis.
Corporate officer Chris Jackson said the committee could give direction under the mayor’s signature to send a letter along the lines of what was being requested.
“An overdose crisis is upon us,” said Doubt. “We’ve got people dying unnecessarily around the country, and a large number in British Columbia. Locally, way too many people are losing their lives.
“I’ve seen other jurisdictions around the world that have decriminalized drugs and provided treatment for addiction while providing safe supply. In Amsterdam, it has made a huge difference to the city and it has also made a huge difference to people who are suffering from addiction, allowing them to get treatment. This is a good idea and I’d like to see illicit drugs decriminalized and a safe supply available. I’d like the city to write a letter to support that.”
Mayor Dave Formosa said given that Powell River has one of the highest per capita rates in BC of overdose and death, a letter is appropriate.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said she is in favour of a letter and liked the fact that councillor Maggie Hathaway, the committee chair, had distributed a chart showing dual emergencies of illicit drug toxicity and COVID-19 deaths in BC. The chart indicates that between January and November 2020, there had been 1,548 overdose deaths in BC and 441 COVID-19 deaths.
“I agree with the motion and the letter that was done by Kamloops,” said Elliott.
Hathaway said the statistics are horrific.
“We can’t let this crisis slip away under COVID-19,” said Hathaway. “I’m very supportive of writing a letter to the federal government. The community action team is following up in a lot of ways, too.
The committee gave unanimous consent to send the matter to council.
Christian, in his letter, suggested that council request the federal government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so it is taken seriously and funded appropriately. Christian also suggested that the federal government immediately seek input from people most affected by the crisis, and to meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma, such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to ensure safe supply of pharmaceutical alternatives to toxic street drugs and decriminalization for personal use.
