VICTORIA, B.C.: Testimony before a federal parliamentary committee has raised serious questions about the BC NDP’s handling of the addiction crisis.
Dr. Julian Somers, a clinical psychologist at Simon Fraser University, testified that he was directed by senior provincial officials to destroy decades of research after presenting findings that challenged the government’s approach to addiction, homelessness, and so-called “safe supply.”
This testimony comes as the NDP backs away from its failed decriminalization experiment after years of dismissing concerns from frontline workers, communities, and the BC Conservative Caucus.
Critic for Mental Heath, Addictions and Housing Supports Claire Rattée issued the following statement:
“For years, we have warned that the NDP’s radical decriminalization and ‘safe supply’ policies were not working, and were in fact making a devastating crisis worse.
Once again, we are hearing deeply troubling testimony that research pointing to more effective solutions, like housing, recovery, and community-based care, may have been sidelined or even destroyed.
If the NDP ignored or suppressed evidence because it didn’t fit their political agenda, that is a profound failure of leadership.
British Columbians have paid the price for these failed experiments with lives lost, communities destabilized, and families torn apart.
The NDP cannot quietly roll back these policies and pretend nothing happened. They must answer for the decisions that led us here.
If any of this data still exists, it should be made public immediately. And if it was destroyed, British Columbians deserve to know who made that decision and why.
Most importantly, we need a complete shift in approach, away from failed policies like decriminalization and ‘safe supply,’ and toward real solutions focused on recovery and treatment. The time for half-measures is over.”
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