The BC Greens have released the following statement in response to the B.C. government's decision to cancel a planned overdose prevention site in Downtown Vancouver, as new data from the BC Coroners Service shows that 138 people died from suspected unregulated drug toxicity in June—an average of approximately 4.6 deaths every day.

“Cancelling a planned overdose prevention site won't make anyone stop using drugs. It will simply mean that more people are forced to use alone, without oversight, and without someone there to intervene when things go wrong,” said Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. “Pushing people from a supervised space onto the street—or behind closed doors—doesn't make communities safer. It increases the risk of overdose and death.”

Data from the BC Coroners Service released today shows that Vancouver Coastal Health, where the cancelled overdose prevention service served, has one of the highest numbers of deaths from unregulated drug toxicity in the province. 

“Ravi Kahlon’s first decision as Minister of Health is to put politics ahead of people. The Minister has caved to pressure from Mayor Ken Sim. Yet this out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to a public health emergency will do the exact opposite: force people further onto the streets and break from the path to healing,” said Emily Lowan, Leader of the BC Greens. 

“If the government is serious about helping people get healthy and keeping communities safe, it needs to invest in a regulated drug supply, voluntary and accessible treatment, and the supports that keeps people connected to their communities. Harm reduction is how we help British Columbians get through addiction. Policy choices like this cost lives.”

“These choices are not the only choices available—yet Minister Kahlon has made one that risks public health in an attempt to make it appear his government is addressing public safety. That is a damaging false choice,” added Botterell.” We can take public safety seriously while also investing in a regulated supply, voluntary services, supportive housing and community-based supports. Everyone counts, and keeping people alive has to be the first step toward helping people get well.”