Honourable John Horgan, MLA
Premier of British Columbia
West Annex, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C.
V8V 1X4
Dear Premier Horgan,
Our province continues to experience the deadliest year of overdose deaths on record. Last month, we marked International Overdose Awareness Day and somberly reflected on the tragic loss of over 1,000 British Columbians to overdose deaths, so far this year.
Naloxone kits are a vital tool needed to save lives and prevent these overdose deaths. We find it unacceptable that with deaths at record levels, your government cut the funding that provided kits to frontline emergency responders during an overdose crisis.
The cost of a naloxone kit is negligible when considering the potential loss of life that could occur without access to one.
In attempting to justify these shocking cuts to naloxone funding for police departments, you claimed there was a supply issue in our province. This was incredibly alarming news to hear. But just hours later, the BC Center for Disease Control publicly contradicted you, reassuring British Columbians that there are no supply issues for this life-saving tool.
On behalf of the Official Opposition, I’m asking that you apologize for the confusion that was created by your comments and immediately and publicly commit to reinstating funding for naloxone kits for all police departments who request inventory.
I look forward to your timely attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Trevor Halford MLA, Surrey-White Rock
Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health & Addictions
