Headlines in 2023

May

B.C.'s opioid crisis includes 'the drug war,' report says
May 27, 2023 — Vancouver Is Awesome

Municipal governments respond to public drug consumption amid decriminalization project
May 25, 2023 — Ha-Shilth-Sa

In B.C., Alberta and around the world, forcing drug users into treatment is a violent policy
May 25, 2023 — The Conversation

Will open use of illegal drugs become a problem in Delta?
May 24, 2023 — Delta Optimist

Will BC Towns’ Bylaws Undermine Drug Decriminalization Pilot?
May 17, 2023 — The Tyee

Campbell River city council and North Island medical health officer struggle to find common ground
May 16, 2023 — Campbell River Mirror (Black Press Media)

Campbell River council meets with mental health minister about public drug consumption bylaw
May 16, 2023 — Campbell River Mirror (Black Press Media)

Bylaw banning public drug consumption has no benefit for Campbell River: medical health officer
May 2, 2023 — CBC News

School liaison officers will appear less formal, have smaller firearms, Vancouver police briefing says
May 1, 2023 — CBC News

Unravelling BC’s Punishing Welfare Bureaucracy
May 1, 2023 — The Mainlander

April

B.C. councillors drink beer from lawn chairs on a public sidewalk to make a point
April 26, 2023 — The Northern View (Black Press Media)

Two North Cowichan councillors drink beer in public to make a point
April 25, 2023 — Lake Cowichan Gazette (Black Press Media)

After nearly eight years, the BC Coroners’ Inquest into police killing of Myles Gray begins
April 25, 2023 — Spring Magazine

Campbell River trying again to ban public drug consumption
April 24, 2023 — Castanet

Campbell River takes another stab at banning public drug consumption
April 24, 2023 — North Island Gazette (Black Press Media)

Campbell River tries again to ban public drug consumption
April 22, 2023 — Vancouver Is Awesome

Police enforcement of Prince George's drug-use bylaw 'flies in the face' of decriminalization: lawyer
April 17, 2023 — CBC News

Inquest into VPD-involved death of Myles Gray begins in Burnaby
April 17, 2023 — Daily Hive News

Kamloops drafts bylaw amendment to ban drug use in public spaces amid decriminalization pilot
April 13, 2023 — CBC News

Displacement = death
April 11, 2023 — Spring Magazine

Changes to VPD handcuff policy does little to address systemic racism, campaigner says
April 11, 2023 — CBC News (Audio)

Vancouver Police Department announces official changes to handcuffing policy
April 8, 2023 — CBC News

Frustration mounts as Vancouver forces removal of Downtown Eastside tent encampment
April 6, 2023 — CBC News (Video)

Vancouver police, city workers return to Downtown Eastside for 2nd phase of encampment clearing
April 6, 2023 — CBC News

Vancouver police deployed to end tent encampment in city’s Downtown Eastside
April 5, 2023 — The Northern View (Black Press Media)

Vancouver police, city staff move into Downtown Eastside to clear tent encampment
April 5, 2023 — The Globe and Mail

Vancouver police, city staff move into Downtown Eastside to clear tent encampment
April 5, 2023 — The Globe and Mail

Rights groups allege violations occurring in DTES in submission to federal advocate
April 5, 2023 — Global News

The plan to remove homeless camps from Hastings Street
April 4, 2023 — Global News (Video)

The RCMP has been tracking our phones for years. What can we do about it?
April 3, 2023 — Open Media

ROTHENBURGER: Banning drug use in parks is a great idea, but it will probably fail
April 1, 2023 — CFJC Today

March

As Nurses, We Oppose BC’s New Paths to Forced Hospitalization
March 31, 2023 — The Tyee

Penticton among B.C. cities looking to limit public drug use amid decriminalization
March 31, 2023 — Rock101

Kamloops to consider drug ban in public parks
March 28, 2023 — iNFOnews

Sicamous leading the way in banning drug use in parks
March 25, 2023 — iNFOnews

Involuntary treatment of drug users under B.C.’s Mental Health Act could be deadly, legal group warns
March 24, 2023 — CTV News

Pivot Legal Society is asking the province to eliminate involuntary treatment in B-C.
March 24, 2023 — CBC News, The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn (Audio)

Legal group in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside cautions B.C. against involuntary care
March 23, 2023 — The Globe and Mail

B.C. advocacy group fears involuntary treatment could be deadly
March 23, 2023 — CityNews

Vancouver fire chief calls for action after propane tank explosion and fire in Downtown Eastside
March 21, 2023 — CBC News

Kelowna wants its municipal parks exempted from B.C.'s drug decriminalization project
March 21, 2023 — CBC News

Who is responsible for tent cities and homeless encampments in B.C.?
March 17, 2023 — CBC News

Honour Their Names: highlighting lives lost to police violence
March 15, 2023 — CityNews

B.C. exhibit honours Indigenous and Black lives lost to police violence
March 15, 2023 — Vernon Morning Star (Black Press Media)

B.C. exhibit honours Indigenous and Black lives lost to police violence
March 15, 2023 — Victoria News (Black Press Media)

February

Campbell River bylaw banning consumption of illicit drugs repealed
February 27, 2023 — CHEK News

Campbell River scraps bylaw changes to ban drug consumption on public property
February 25, 2023 — Times Colonist

City of Campbell River rescinds adoption of controversial bylaws banning public drug consumption
February 24, 2023 — Campbell River Mirror (Black Press Media)

Downtown Eastside residents call for 'dignified' housing amid tent removals during cold snap
February 23, 2023 — CBC News

Vancouver's efforts to remove DTES tent city residents “a violation of human rights”: advocate
February 23, 2023 — Vancouver Sun

Downtown Courtenay businesses react to drug use, pilot project
February 22, 2023 — Comox Valley Record (Black Press Media)

BC Police-Involved Deaths Have Risen 700% in the Last Decade
February 15, 2023 — The Tyee

Strathcona Regional District looking into controlled substance use ban at Strathcona Gardens
February 14, 2023 — Black Press Media

2,500 days. 11,098 deaths. Welcome to the forever emergency.
February 14, 2023 — Georgia Straight

A first step for BC in the overdose crisis
February 14, 2023 — CBA/ABC National

Group challenges Campbell River ban on public drug consumption
February 14, 2023 — Times Colonist

Data shows Indigenous, Black people have more police interactions. Advocates say it reflects systemic racism
February 12, 2023 — CBC News

Behind the push to expand mandatory treatment for mental health and addictions in B.C.
February 11, 2023 — The Globe and Mail

Island city’s bylaw banning public drug consumption challenged in court
February 10, 2023 — Black Press Media

Nicole Chan Deserved Safety Within Her VPD Workplace
February 6, 2023 — The Tyee

The Jill Bennett Show - Feb 6, 2023
February 6, 2023 — Global News (Audio - 00:00:35 - 00:09:04)

Vancouver Island municipality to ban drug use in public spaces as decriminalization takes effect
February 5, 2023 — CBC News

Vancouver proposes $2.8 million grant to expand program pairing police with mental health nurses
February 5, 2023 — CBC News

Police body cams may help with accountability but not prevent violence, B.C. critics caution
February 3, 2023 — CTV News

Why It Took Six Years to Charge Officers in Deadly RCMP Incident
February 3, 2023 — The Tyee

Day 6 - Benzos aren't covered by BC's new decriminalization policy and critics say that's a problem
February 3, 2023 — CBC News (audio)

All Points West with Jason D'Souza — Pivot legal critical of Campbell River bylaw that bans drug consumption in public spaces
February 2, 2023 — CBC News (audio)

People battling addiction say new Campbell River bylaw targeting drug use won’t help deadly crisis
February 1, 2023 — Chek News

Drug users say B.C. ‘fight continues’ during decriminalization amid safe supply calls
February 1, 2023 — CHAT News Today

January

Drug policy expert on B.C.’s move to decriminalize some drugs
January 31, 2023 — CPAC (Video)

It’s the ‘Eve of Decriminalization’ for Drug Possession in BC
January 30, 2023 — The Tyee

Commentary: BC's upcoming illicit drug exemption is not decriminalization
January 30, 2023 — The Georgia Straight

Why Does BC’s Decriminalization Exclude Benzodiazepines?
January 26, 2023 — Filter

Civilian police investigator targets evasive Vancouver officers for further probe
January 20, 2023 — CBC News

North Vancouver police shooting of Dani Cooper sparks calls for change
January 13, 2023 — CityNews

Last year, B.C. police killed 14 people, including queer activist and organizer Dani Cooper
January 13, 2023 — Xtra