B.C. premier softens his tone on involuntary care for people who repeatedly overdose

Premier David Eby has walked back his position on involuntary care for people who overdose repeatedly, fuelling allegations from the B.C. Liberals that his NDP government does not have a concrete plan for expanding treatment for people with complex mental health and addiction issues.

One thing Eby and Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon can agree on, however, is that a Coquitlam mental health facility on the former grounds of the Riverview Hospital has become a model for providing compassionate care when individuals are held involuntarily under the Mental Health Act and one that could be replicated across the province.

Asked on Friday if he stands by his statements on involuntary care, Eby did not answer directly, instead giving a long response that seemed to straddle both sides of the debate.

Eby said there are two categories of people he’s concerned about. The first are people who are forced into care under the Mental Health Act because they are at risk of hurting themselves or others. When two physicians confirm someone needs involuntary hospitalization, Eby said there must be high-quality beds or a high-quality facility available. He pointed to the Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction in Coquitlam as an example of that high-quality care.