British Columbia is taking radical measures against drug addicts, the homeless, and incivility

Image young addict

Roger-Luc Chayer (Image: AI – Gay Globe)

Across Quebec, people are talking about the social situation in Montreal’s Gay Village, which is at its worst historical level, with daily incidents of incivility, vandalism, insecurity, and violence caused by a certain disaffected population that the City of Montreal continues to concentrate in the same area, despite strong opposition from residents and merchants of the Village.

For years, citizen groups, associations, merchant representatives, and local residents have been demanding that the City of Montreal and the police authorities take action to clean up this environment that makes the Gay Village unappealing and frankly dangerous, both day and night. So far, aside from discussing coexistence and blaming the population for the social problems in the area, the City has not provided any concrete or effective solutions.

The British Columbian Example

In January 2024, the Western Canadian province decriminalized the possession and certain distribution of hard drugs, hoping to reduce the number of arrests and create a climate of trust with users to better control the substances sold. However, by May 2024, the authorities decided to recriminalize hard drug use because, rather than improving the situation, the drugs sold were more lethal than ever, causing over 2,511 deaths in 2023.

British Columbia now wants to change its approach to dealing with users of hard and potentially deadly drugs by modifying certain laws to compel drug addicts to seek treatment. According to Radio-Canada, John Rustad, the leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party, supports involuntary treatment for drug addicts. If elected in the provincial elections, he promises to implement measures to achieve this.

In a statement, John Rustad cites the urgent need to protect vulnerable British Columbians from the devastating effects of addiction, arguing that the current system has failed not only youth but also adults struggling without adequate support. To address this, the Conservative Party proposes three measures: establishing laws allowing involuntary treatment for those severely threatened by addiction, building low-security facilities for treatment in a safe environment, and creating crisis response and stabilization units to reduce pressure on emergency rooms.

The project aims to remove certain individuals in distress due to drug use, such as the homeless and other addicted individuals, from the streets and house them in specialized centers for treatment. The goal is to stabilize them and not send them back to the streets as is currently the practice. It involves treating and stabilizing their social condition so they can return to a more normal life.

Could the British Columbian Project be Applicable to Montreal?

The Gay Village in Montreal faces a situation similar to that of Vancouver. Is it possible to consider legislative and regulatory changes to allow authorities to intervene and remove drug addicts, people in mental distress, and other vulnerable individuals from the streets to house them and provide the means to improve their situation? According to most community and business observers, the answer is yes.

Montreal has infrastructure in buildings that could be renovated or repurposed to accommodate these individuals. By removing them from the streets for treatment and care, the Gay Village would also be relieved of the current situation, and residents would be able to regain control of their environment. Achieving this will require real political will from the City of Montreal, the Quebec government, and the federal government. It is high time to make decisions, especially with elections coming up at all three levels of government in the next two years.

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