EDITORIAL – Eby finally figures out what everyone knew about decriminalization

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger,

‘TOLD YOU SO.’ Feels good to say it, especially in view of the alternative.

When the David Eby government brought in a pilot project decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs three years ago, many said it wouldn’t work. The public said it. Municipal politicians said it. Business and police said it.

Of particular concern was the use of those drugs in parks and playgrounds, but the idea of consumption in public places in general wasn’t popular. In Kamloops, on any given day, you could see addicts on the streets doing their drugs. Still can, though decriminalization was later restricted to private places.

Eby stubbornly stuck to the plan, insisting the pilot program would decrease the stigma of addiction and encourage users to seek help. It didn’t, and he did tinker around the edges, prohibiting drug use in parks, playgrounds and hospitals and on buses. Drug overdoses continued to rise. Five people in B.C. die of overdoses every day.

In June, 2023, this corner declared the experiment a failure. “End it now,” we said.

On Wednesday this week, Health Minister Josie Osborne announced there will be no extension of the decriminalization project, which officially ends Jan 31.

According to Osborne, “We are building a more complete and comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care in B.C., including prevention, treatment and recovery, harm reduction and aftercare.”

Okay.

The Conservatives and Greens are, of course, trashing the NDP over the decision. The Greens claim the program should have worked, if only it had been done properly. “We cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater here,” says Green MLA Jeremy Valeriote.

The Conservatives, on the other hand, agree the program should end but…. “After months of rising public concern, the government is now conceding what families, front-line workers, and communities have been warning for years: the NDP’s risky experiment with drug decriminalization has negatively impacted our downtowns, communities and schools,” according to MLA Claire Rattee.

So, the NDP government was going to be damned if it did, damned if it didn’t. But it shouldn’t have at all.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.