Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka said B.C.’s move to criminalize drug use in public spaces is damage control for failed policy measures.
The B.C. government took steps to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use in early 2023.
Now, the province has made drug use in public spaces illegal.
Shypitka said this shows the BC NDP sees the faults in their policy.
“This is something BC United has been calling on for over a year now,” said Shypitka. “This is really just damage control by the NDP. They’re essentially trying to reel things back that they know went off the rails.”
The legislation was passed and took effect on May 8, banning drug use in public parks, transit, hospitals, and beaches.
However, Shypitka feels the change will be ineffective.
“The genie is out of the bottle. This has been accepted practice for well over a year now, and RCMP only have so much support,” said Shypitka. “It’s going to be really hard to reel this thing back.”
More: Local advocates say ban on drug use in public spaces is a step in the wrong direction (May 2, 2024)
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