For Immediate Release
September 11, 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
Depoliticize public safety: BC Greens call for cross-party action
Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen)Territory / Victoria, B.C. — In response to the increasing politicization of public safety, the BC Greens are calling for a return to the cross-party collaboration of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act.
“People are tired of public safety being turned into a political football,” said BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. “We need to come together, across party lines, to create real solutions that make everyone in our communities feel safe. Public safety must be grounded in anti-racism, community accountability, and evidence-based practices.”
The BC Greens would implement all recommendations from the Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia report, including:
- Fund a continuum of response to mental health, substance use, and other complex social issues, with a focus on prevention and community-led reponse, and integrating mental health within 911 call options.
- Immediately appoint an all-party parliamentary committee to undertake a comprehensive and binding review of the Mental Health Act.
- Ensure Indigenous peoples and local governments are engaged in the drafting of Community Safety and Policing Act legislation.
- Enhance and standardize initial and ongoing police education and training to reflect key values and competencies in order to shift police culture.
“I understand that many people are feeling worried and uncertain about safety in their communities,” continued Furstenau, “These feelings are valid. At the same time, it’s important to look at the data. While Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer has reported a decrease in crime in the city, we must also acknowledge that homelessness across the province has risen dramatically, from 7,655 people in 2018 to 11,352 in 2023. This highlights the complex challenges we face, and why we need compassionate, community-focused solutions.
“To address homelessness, we must provide housing. To improve public safety, we need to address the root causes of crime. Mental health responses, not just police intervention, are essential for public and police safety.”
“We already have a cross-party-supported roadmap to reform public safety,” said Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands and member of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act. “The BC NDP has ignored it since its release in 2022. It’s time to act.”
Olsen emphasized the importance of all-party oversight, stating, “the commitment to engaging all-party committees to oversee the implementation of the Police Act reforms and to review the Mental Health Act highlight our commitment to collaborative, transparent, and accountable governance. Cross-party oversight ensures that reforms are driven by the needs of the community rather than solely on political agendas, which is critical for meaningful public safety transformation.”
Quick links:
- Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia report
- Mental Health for All: Building a Comprehensive System of Care in BC
- Closing Gaps, Reducing Barriers, Expanding the Response to the Toxic Drug and Overdose Crisis report
- BC Housing Homeless Counts
- MLA Column: Police Act committee delivered needed change
Media contact:
newsroom@greenparty.bc.ca
Phone: +1 250-418-5528
