In this edition of Journal, we take a closer look at the “safer supply” of drugs in British Columbia.

This refers to the distribution to drug addicts, by the health authorities, of a drug called hydromorphone, an opioid some say is as potent as heroin. The idea behind this initiative is to move individuals away from the toxic street drugs that are causing so many overdoses.

But are they safe, as we understand the word? A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in the BC Supreme Court suggesting this terminology is negligent misrepresentation – that they are not safe for our community.

An earlier report by an American drug policy expert commissioned by Bonnie Henry, our Medical Health Officer, stated that “rampant safe supply diversion is all but inevitable.”

“Diversion” means that while these drugs are initially given to drug users in the program, they are often traded for cash or stronger drugs on the street – these “dillies” (as they are often called) end up in the hands of our young people, even in our high schools.

Police have been quoted as saying that “everyday our officers observe people openly selling these diverted safe supply medications.”

This means that these drugs are often not staying with the intended user for the intended purpose, and thus increases the potential of expanding our drug-using community rather than decreasing it.

The reporter who has meticulously been documenting these issues in the National Post is Adam Zivo, the Executive Director of the Centre for Responsible Drug Policy.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj021 #drugaddiction #addiction #addictionrecovery

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In this edition of Journal, a question: Do you remember how you felt when Canada sent our first astronaut up into space? The pride? The amazement?

Did you ever wonder what it takes to be one of the chosen ones on this small team of would-be astronauts, when Canada didn’t even have a full space program?

The year was 1984 and the man was Marc Garneau, today’s guest.

His story is a remarkable tale of talent, guts, success and very hard work in a number of professions: a captain in our Navy, Canada’s first astronaut in space, President of the Canadian Space Agency and finally a turn in politics as the federal Minister of Transportation and then Foreign Affairs – and that is just a “fly-over” of his career, pun intended.

Marc has recently written a book on his adventures called “A Most Extraordinary Ride.” And indeed, it has been. He describes himself as a restless individual – a somewhat challenging young man testing all the rules.

In his career, Marc Garneau, wearing different hats, had dinner with President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Mulroney just before his first space flight, travelled the world trying to better understand the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, and then, as our Minister of Foreign Affairs, was involved in the chaotic aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

One of Marc Garneau’s last acts as a politician was to give a moving speech to the United Nations on Canada’s behalf, saying in part: “Space offers the unique perspective of seeing beyond one’s own national borders. In that sense, this body – the United Nations – offers that same perspective.”

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On this episode of Journal, I want to introduce you to a woman I have tremendous respect for: Krista Thompson.

For 16 years she was the President and CEO of Covenant House Vancouver, an organization supporting youth aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness, meaning they may live on the street, or in cars, or occasionally find a bed with friends but no place they call home.

Sometimes they have been kicked out of their homes; sometimes they have been forced to run away because of abuse. Covenant House is there for them, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Recently, Krista led a major fundraising effort that resulted in a new building being opened that, with extra space, allows the counsellors to look after the very unique needs of the individuals who come to their doors seeking help – and believe me, their needs are complicated, often compounded by various addictions or history of abuse.

As Covenant’s material says: “One size fits One.”

There is no single solution that will work for every young person, so all of the care and counselling is intensely personal – What do YOU need, at this moment? Food? Bed? Mental health or addiction support? Covenant House currently has 60 crisis beds to be used for those in trouble – for as long as the crisis lasts.

As a result of Krista’s remarkable success, she has been tapped by Covenant House International to help other cities achieve their best results. Currently, she is on contract as interim CEO in Houston Texas until they complete their search for a new leader.

To talk about the overall challenges facing our youth today, Krista Thompson joins me.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj019 #homelessness #youthhomelessness #youth

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In this edition of Journal, we examine what just happened in our provincial election.

We should probably start at the beginning – what happened to the BC Liberals?

I was elected in 2005 as a BC Liberal, which, at the time, represented a coming-together of the more central Liberals and the Conservatives of BC.

But as we mostly know, it was not a happy or easy coalition. I doubt I went anywhere in my role

without those who were more conservative, complaining about the name. They hated the “Liberal” label and they were definitely NOT federal Liberals.

So I am not going to jump on Kevin Falcon and blame the loss of the election on the name change. Obviously, it wasn’t handled well and surely not marketed well.

So what now?

I served when Gordon Campbell had a slim majority and that meant that when the legislature was sitting, we had to be present in the building until 9pm, in case the opposition introduced a

motion of non-confidence. When that happens, the bells ring and everyone present runs to the legislature before the doors are locked.

If someone is sick on your side, or maybe off to dinner, the government can fall.

Premier Eby is in a much more precarious situation. And even though he and the Greens may be friendly on a number of issues, what happens to LNG expansion which the Greens oppose? Or involuntary care for those with severe mental disabilities?

So, good luck to Premier Eby. This is not going to be easy.

He indicated he listened to voters – but has he?

To discuss this election and what our government is going to look like going forward is someone who has watched every moment of this drama – Rob Shaw, the senior political reporter for CHEK News.

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In this edition of Journal, we try to lift the numbers off the page and talk about the actual challenges facing families in British Columbia.

Why is it that politicians here and in the US often say inflation is coming down, so all will be fine? Well, to start with, it is each year’s growth of inflation that is slowing. But each year’s numbers are added on top of the previous years’ jumps – it is cumulative.

That’s why economists say the cost of living went up approximately 20% in the last five years when you add up those five years of increases.

Wages, for the most part, have not risen at the same pace as inflation, so your paycheck just doesn’t go as far as it used to.

So what does that mean to an average family? Well, it may mean you buy hamburger rather than steak – very likely, restaurant visits are reduced and it could mean you have to visit the food bank at the end of the month.

It certainly means credit card defaults are up, which they are – 11%. And that is a very expensive way to borrow.

Baby formula up 47%; shelter up 29%; food up 27%.

Throughout this past BC election, people repeatedly said cost of living was their biggest worry and concern. Were the politicians listening? Did we get a calm, detailed analysis of how anyone intended to bring back fiscal discipline as a driving value?

After all, if families have to watch their pennies, why shouldn't the government?

Someone who has written extensively on this sticker shock is economist David Williams from the Business Council of BC.

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In this edition of Journal, I would like you to meet a rather unusual politician – mayor Brad West of Port Coquitlam.

In my life in politics and journalism, I have met a lot of politicians, most of whom are decent people trying to do a good job. But once in a while, an individual stands out.

At 23, Brad was the youngest Councillor elected to Port Coquitlam city council, where he served three terms. In his first run for mayor, he received 86% of the vote – that’s practically unheard of. And for his second run, he was acclaimed. It was the first time ever that a mayoralty candidate was acclaimed in the City.

So obviously, he was successful from a very young age. But what interests me the most is what one commentator named as his “truth-telling.” Brad West tends to say the things many people are thinking, but don’t say aloud.

It is refreshing to hear a politician move off his briefing notes to express his thoughts or criticisms without worrying about any controversy that might ensue. He has an opinion on Riverview, decriminalization, and even China, for heaven’s sake! And even though his roots are firmly in the labour movement, he has criticized the NDP’s move towards what he calls “identity politics.”

People would like to pigeonhole him and say he is left-wing or right-wing, this party or that party. But so far, it hasn’t worked. Despite being asked by different political parties to run with them, he has so far declined.

Busy and happy as mayor of Port Coquitlam, Brad West also chairs Translink’s Mayors’ Council, as well as chairing Metro Vancouver’s Finance Committee.

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In this edition of Journal, we take the time to look at some of the complexities surrounding open-net fish farms in British Columbia.

There is no question that this is a valuable business, bringing in over a billion dollars in economic activity to the province along with thousands of jobs – many supporting our First Nations communities.

There is also no question that open-net fish farming is controversial. Those who are against it talk about the poisoning of wild salmon through either transfer of disease or escaped fish

contaminating the stock.

Those in favour say much has improved over the years, greatly reducing the number of escaped fish, and they refer to a government report that suggested “marine operations pose

minimal risk to wild stocks.”

Despite this, the federal government has decided to take what they call a “precautionary approach” and close all open-net fish farms within five years. The assumption here is that the option of moving to land based containment is doable for all these enterprises – but is it?

The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship has come forward to say this is a political decision not based on science – and Hereditary Chief Richard George of the Ahousat Nation has said that in his territory, a 5-year transition to closed containment is the same as shutting their operations down.

So, big questions: Can we have it all? Can we protect wild salmon and farm fish in the ocean

at the same time?

To further this examination I have invited Dallas Smith, President and Chair of the Nanwakolas Council business corporation and spokesperson for the Coalition, to join me.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj015 #fishfarming #fishing #britishcolumbia

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In this edition of Journal, we take on the urgent issue of crime on our streets with deputy chief Fiona Wilson of the Vancouver Police Department.

There is no denying, even by politicians, that the disorder and stranger violence we see on streets around our province has profoundly upset our communities. Now, there are obviously many complicated causes and many fingers to be pointed at policies or politicians.

But where are we at and how do we go forward?

Going way back, the closing of Riverview put many people with complex mental health issues on the street without guaranteeing the support they would need for their healthcare and housing.

Today’s guest, Fiona Wilson, actually wrote a report on this topic for the Vancouver Police way back in 2007, called “Lost in Transition.”

As well, there is no question that BC’s recent experimentation with decriminalization rapidly brought disorder to our public spaces and limited what the police could do to keep some semblance of order. Now that public use of drugs in certain public spaces has been re-criminalized, has that made a difference?

And then we have a court system, sarcastically called “catch and release,” that sends repeat violent offenders back out into the community – often to reoffend.

Why is that?

Is this because it is an intentional policy decision? Or is it a lack of judges? Or holding space in our jails?

Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson, one of the most accomplished and decorated women in Vancouver Police history, has spent 25 years immersed in these issues and will join us to give us her perspective on the current situation and possible solutions.

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Carole Taylor's Journal is a public affairs dialogue that digs deep into the most pressing issues of our times. For more, see our website at http://www.caroletaylorsjournal.ca.

ctj014 #publicsafety #police #vancouver

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