Kitsilano Coalition

We're a coalition of people who care about this community. We're focused on promoting and protecting safe, friendly, and inclusive living.

[Kitsilano Coalition @kitscoalition]

We acknowledge the pressing need for affordable housing solutions in Vancouver, however we firmly believe that development cannot come at the expense of public safety, community well-being and at the expense of Citizens' constitutional rights. #bcpoli

https://t.co/PyhKUBgEnC

[Mayor Ken Sim @KenSimCity]

This October 17th, you will have your voice heard.

Vancouverites will have the chance to bring lasting change to how we address open-air hard drug use in our public spaces and increase treatment capacity for those dealing with severe mental health and addiction challenges.

As Dr. Julian Somers explains, better care is possible. We have healthcare professionals ready and willing to provide better, recovery-oriented care. What we need is government prepared to act.

The public safety plebiscite will give Vancouverites the opportunity to deliver a clear mandate for tangible change.

Tangible change in our public spaces by giving the City another tool to address open-air hard drug use.

And tangible change in healthcare by giving the Province a clear path forward to create the secure medical care and treatment capacity needed to get people the help they need, break the revolving door of crisis, and ease pressure on our emergency rooms.

The Province has the authority. The healthcare system has people ready to provide better care. What we need now is action and this plebiscite will allow us to hold Premier Eby accountable for his lack of action.

Enough is enough.

It’s time to re-establish social expectations around hard drug use in our shared public spaces — and get people suffering from severe mental health and addiction disorders the care they need.

On October 17th, your voice will be heard.

Read the full Building a Safer Vancouver policy paper:
https://t.co/BhJ7XTUgBp

#ABCVancouver #PublicSafety #Vancouver

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

Eby repeatedly ignored pleas from Vancouverites to address addiction & public safety while his Govt rammed through policies that increased harm

His “support” means nothing

[Mayor Ken Sim @KenSimCity]

Enough is enough - See my letter to David Eby on the urgent need for involuntary care in Vancouver.

[ABC Vancouver @Vote4ABC]

For years, British Columbia expanded drug consumption sites while overdose deaths continued to soar.

Now, evidence from across Canada demonstrates the dangerous consequences of this approach.

Dr. Julian Somers shows us how in Canadian jurisdictions that have closed consumption sites while expanding recovery and treatment services, deaths have declined greatly.

In Alberta, research found that when a consumption site closed and recovery supports increased, overdose deaths declined while more people entered treatment.

In Ontario, nine publicly funded consumption sites transitioned to recovery-focused services.

In the months that followed, Toronto recorded 41% fewer overdose deaths than during the same period the previous year.

Here in British Columbia, overdose deaths have also declined from the record highs seen during the pandemic, including following the closure of the 1060 Howe Street overdose prevention site.

More and more evidence points toward a recovery-focused approach that helps people rebuild their lives—not simply maintain addiction.

Watch Dr. Julian Somers discuss why it’s time to rethink our approach.

Your ABC Vancouver team is going to keep fighting for the right approaches to addiction and recovery that don’t leave people suffering where they are.

We will stand with Vancouver residents who are telling us they want a safe and affordable city.

#abcvancouver #publicsafety #affordability

[Peter Meiszner @PeterMeiszner]

Tonight, @Vote4ABC councillors voted in favour of new city regulations for OPS & supervised consumption sites. Neighbourhoods deserve real consultation, mechanisms to address issues, appropiate siting with restricitons around parks, schools, etc. & real accountability. #vanpoli

[Sitka Media @sitkamedia]

🎙️ Unruly Episode 2 is live!

Did harm reduction actually save lives? With overdose deaths falling as Canada pulls back on such policies, the debate is flaring up.

@adamzivo unpacks the ideology & evidence with drug policy experts Dr. @somerspsych & @KevinSabet 🔽

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

Chapeau to the @globeandmail Editorial Board for encouraging a broader discussion on addiction policies

https://t.co/waaoTQ5p9q

[Mayor Ken Sim @KenSimCity]

Vancouver continues to carry the greatest burden of B.C.'s mental health, addiction and public safety crises.

Yet once again, the Province has announced new involuntary care beds while excluding Vancouver.

When it comes to harm reduction, Vancouver is expected to do more. When it comes to treatment and recovery, we're left behind.

That has to change. Enough is enough.

[Kitsilano Coalition @kitscoalition]

@NVanCaroline https://t.co/2YWigl2LOB

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

Concentrating people with addictions together and providing them with drugs is a shocking disservice to each of the residents and a slap in the face to neighbours, businesses and the taxpayers who foot the bill

BC shows the world how to make Mass Addiction

[ABC Vancouver @Vote4ABC]

We want to thank the federal government for a major step forward with their bail reform legislation becoming law. This is something Mayor Ken Sim and your ABC Vancouver team have been advocating for for years.

For too long, repeat offenders have been responsible for a disproportionate amount of the crime, disorder, and violence impacting Vancouver's streets and neighbourhoods.

Federal bail reform is an important step, now, the Province must do its part as well.

We expect to see:

• Mandatory care and treatment beds for Vancouver. So far, none have been delivered.

• Harm reduction services properly managed with wraparound supports and direct pathways to detox, treatment, recovery, and long-term care.

• Dangerous and poorly managed SROs moved off Granville Street.

• No net new supportive housing in Vancouver without the proper supports in place to keep neighbourhoods safe.

• Cancellation of the Province's proposed 900 Helmcken OPS and a commitment to not introduce new sites into neighbourhoods without meaningful consultation with the surrounding community.

Your ABC Vancouver team has already taken action by removing dangerous encampments, launching Task Force Barrage to reduce crime in the Downtown Eastside, establishing a dedicated police training centre, fully funding the Vancouver Police Department, fully funding all needed mental health nurses, and standing up to harmful provincial policies.

Now it's time for the Province to step up.

#publicsafety #vancouver #abcvancouver

[Mayor Ken Sim @KenSimCity]

For more than two years, we've been advocating for meaningful bail reform.

The federal government's new legislation is an important step toward addressing repeat violent offending and making our communities safer.

Now, it's time for the Province to do its part on healthcare, mental health, addictions treatment, and mandatory care where appropriate.

Public safety requires both accountability and treatment.

[Sheldon Starrett 謝言信 @SheldonStarrett]

Criminal drug addicts have come to #RichmondBC as a result of failed drug policies, previously supported and renewed by all current members of city council.

I'm running for Mayor of Richmond with the @RichVotesBlue team to stop the criminals and shut down the drug sites.

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

“Henry, Lapointe and other advocates of decriminalization, safer supply and the rest, always insisted they had the science and the data on their side”

As someone who conducted a body of research on addiction in BC and beyond for over 30 years, I call BS on these claims

Vancouver Sun https://t.co/tQYXXkpVsu via @VancouverSun

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

Steve is correct - it’s one thing to terminate noxious policies and quite another to implement reforms that deliver results

BC needs new leadership and changes to the Public Service

[Blacklock's Reporter @mindingottawa]

.@GovCanHealth data confirm overdose deaths rose under decriminalization in BC, then fell when police resumed enforcement of drug laws: "Act on evidence." 
https://t.co/ymFaanCTbF #cdnpoli 
@MarjoriePLC

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

In late 2020 Mr. Eby was briefed on decades of addiction research, showing the specific B.C. communities with greatest need and results from randomized trials showing that some approaches achieved vastly superior results for the same cost

The briefing was written up as a Call to Action, with standardized services, workforce development, and ongoing evaluation

Not only did he ignore our advice in favour of Decrim & “safe supply”, but we were ordered to destroy all our data

BC can begin implementing sound practices any day

https://t.co/ODcoYkNc2w

[Dr. Julian Somers @somerspsych]

“The province not only ignored that evidence, it also ordered the destruction of the database”

🙏 Kitsilano Coalition, June 2022

[Caroline Elliott @NVanCaroline]

Compassion means believing people can recover.

As Premier, I will end the NDP’s reckless, failed drug experiments that keep people sick and destroy our communities.

British Columbians deserve hope, not abandonment. Safety, not chaos.

It’s time to put recovery first.

[Caroline Elliott @NVanCaroline]

It’s time to end the NDP’s radical drug experiments. Restore safety to our streets and health to our citizens.

Under my leadership, BC will focus on getting addicts into treatment and recovery.