You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 8 hours ago • loading... • Updated 8 hours ago
B.C. Conservatives Plan to Hire More Police, Stop Illegal Drug Use in Hospitals, Shelters
The plan also calls for 50 new Crown prosecutors and an end to the province’s safe supply program as overdose deaths top 776 in six months, officials said.
On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson announced plans to restore public safety in Vancouver, pledging 250 additional police officers via Justice Institute expansion and ending the NDP's 'safe supply' program.
Amid British Columbia's ongoing toxic drug crisis, which has killed more than 18,000 people since 2016, the Conservatives aim to stop illegal drug use in hospitals and supportive housing.
Doerkson aims to expand the Justice Institute to hire 250 officers, while recruiting 50 Crown prosecutors and securing federal funding for 20 trial judges to reduce court delays.
Skeena incumbent Claire Ratt, joining Doerkson, argued public drug use must stop, stating 'real compassion means believing recovery is possible, even when the person suffering doesn't believe it themselves.'
Police unions have repeatedly reported recruitment shortages in recent years, highlighting staffing challenges the Conservatives face in bridging the gap between promised hiring and actual deployment.