Candidates answer The Wren’s questions on health care and the toxic drug crisis

To ensure Kamloops has a voice in the provincial election conversation, The Wren surveyed readers to identify their top questions and concerns for candidates in the lead-up to the Oct. 19 election.

The Wren took the most asked questions on the survey and reached out to all of the candidates. Health care and the toxic drug crisis were often included as top issues by survey respondents.

The Wren requested responses from all candidates for the Kamloops Centre and Kamloops North-Thompson riding but as of Oct. 10, two candidates did not respond. We will update the story if responses are provided. To request that additional information be included, send us an email.

These responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What are the parties saying about the health and toxic drug crisis?

BC Conservative Party has made a series of campaign promises to end decriminalization and safe supply programs. The party will focus on prevention like “robust drug education programs,” in addition to cutting down the wait times for treatment by expanding involuntary treatment. For healthcare, the Conservative Party’s “patient first” plan aims to ensure patients who are waiting for health care in B.C. can receive it through “both public and non-governmental facilities.”

The BC NDP is pointing to its record in office, stressing the province has hired 800 new family doctors and 6,300 nurses in the last year. They will also allow pharmacists to not only prescribe medication but test and make referrals and build more primary care and urgent centres.  As far as the drug crisis, the party will expand access to its publicly funded addiction treatment referral service to support detox, addiction treatment and after-care. The party plans to build a new treatment centre focused on construction workers, another Red Fish Healing Centre and new treatment beds for people with mental health, substance use disorders and brain injuries. 

BC Green Party is promising to introduce what it calls the “Dogwood model” for primary care, which would establish a network of community health centers across the province to “provide every resident with a ‘primary care home,’ ensuring accessible, team-based, longitudinal care.”

 For the drug crisis part of the plan, the Green Party will expand the prescribed safer supply program and add supervised consumption spaces in all public hospitals, in addition to having a database that will help track the outcomes of patients who have been part of a treatment program.

What will you/your party do to improve access to healthcare in BC, including family doctors and specialists?

Tristan Cavers, BC Green Party (Kamloops – North Thompson): The Green Party would create health centres in all 93 ridings, we are calling it the Dogwood Model. Medical students need to be encouraged to enter family medicine. British Columbians should have a family doctor. A family doctor is the most efficient way to deal with illness at its outset rather than dealing with illness as an emergency, in an emergency room.

Maddi Genn, BC NDP (Kamloops – North Thompson): Healthcare is a topic very close to my heart having come from a healthcare setting. I experienced the impact of not having access to doctors and specialists, since COVID I have seen firsthand the impact it has on families and our community. In the last year alone we have hired more than 800 Family Doctors and 6,300 nurses. We have also helped increase access to prescriptions for minor ailments by allowing pharmacists to prescribe some medications. Although we have accomplished so much, David Eby and I know it is not enough and we are continuing to focus on increasing staffing, as well as breaking down barriers for international healthcare workers, taking action to retain the nurses that are being hired, and so much more. We have so much further to go and the $4 billion cut John Rustad and the Conservative Party is proposing is simply something none of us can afford.

Ward Stamer, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops – North Thompson): No response.

Kamal Grewal, BC NDP (Kamloops Centre): Our government has hired more than 800 doctors and thousands of nurses and health care workers, and we’ll aggressively continue to hire more – to shorten wait times, do more diagnostics, deliver more surgeries and staff public ERs. We’ve created a new medical school, which John Rustad voted against. His promises would make the shortages of healthcare workers worse and create longer waits for you in our public hospitals. He will cut $4 billion from health care and privatize services. It is a risk we can’t afford.

Peter Milobar, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops Centre): No response.

Randy Sunderman, BC Green Party (Kamloops Centre): In response to the growing healthcare crisis in British Columbia, the BC Green Party is introducing the Dogwood Model – a transformative plan to provide every resident with a ‘primary care home,’ ensuring accessible, team-based, longitudinal care. With nearly one million people without a family doctor and emergency rooms closing or facing extensive wait times, it’s clear our system is failing. The Dogwood Model is the solution, it is inspired by former federal Health Minister Jane Philpott’s Periwinkle Model, seeking to establish a network of Community Health Centres across the province. Providing access to doctors, nurses, mental health professionals and specialists like dietitians and physiotherapists within their community. The model ensures timely, comprehensive care all in one place. Once the system is fully built, people will be seamlessly transferred to a unit in their new location when they move. The spaces will be leased and administered by the province, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.

What is your plan to address the toxic drug crisis and crime / homelessness?

Tristan Cavers, BC Green Party (Kamloops – North Thompson): The Green Party believes that “The Village” in Duncan is a model for addressing homelessness and this model should be scaled up. Getting people off the streets will immediately deal with a portion of crime.  We have a host of policies to address toxic drugs including expanded supervised use sites that have wrap-around services to ensure people are able to access detox facilities. We need to ensure we have social workers available for those in mental health crisis in our many regions rather than depending on police to deal with these situations. We propose a provincial police service where the province can better mandate the tasks our police should carry out. A review of our  prison system is required to address recidivism as well as lobbying federal officials why dangerous and repeat offenders are returned to our communities so quickly.

Maddi Genn, BC NDP (Kamloops – North Thompson): As someone who works with at-risk youth I have a unique understanding of the complexity of the problems toxic drugs, homelessness and crime bring to the community. We have worked hard to bring wraparound [comprehensive] supports that provide treatment, fight drug trafficking and address some of the underlying issues. I look forward to working with David Eby on further improving and developing new tools to intervene and support people with overlapping addiction, and health challenges.

Addressing the toxic drug crisis and improving access to housing and mental health services are top priorities for me. The BC NDP has improved mental health access for youths, provided more treatment options for those struggling with addictions and increased the availability of supportive housing. There are people who are struggling severely with addictions and mental issues who might need stronger interventions than we have right now, and involuntary care can be one of the tools in our toolbox for helping them. These are complex issues though, and people need wraparound supports.

Ward Stamer, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops – North Thompson): No response.

Kamal Grewal, BC NDP: We’re taking action on all fronts to expand access to treatment and fight the toxic drug crisis so we can save lives and get people treatment so that they can recover. We will continue to drive forward our work to expand early intervention services and voluntary treatment available for people when they say they are ready for help. We’ve opened more than 650 new treatment beds across BC and opening new treatment facilities. And, we’re working with police to fight drug trafficking, seize proceeds of crime and put criminals who deal these drugs behind bars.

Recently, Premier Eby announced the work we’ve been doing to provide more secure care for people with severe mental health and addictions issues, coupled with brain injuries from repeated overdoses who pose a risk to themselves or others. It’s new action to keep everyone safe.

Peter Milobar, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops Centre): No response.

Randy Sunderman, BC Green Party: We are still in the process of unveiling specifics of our platform to address the toxic drug crisis, crime and issues of homelessness. One key BC Green’s platform item is the development of primary care. It is the basis of our health system, and it’s in crisis. People need the right care, at the right time, in the right place. They need to be able to access the system in an easy way, where their records are available, where they can make an appointment that fits into their lifestyle, where they can be assured that their children can continue to have care into their teen and adult years

The BC Greens want to see those who are seeking help with addictions find the help they need in a timely fashion. Currently, too many people are slipping through the cracks and are unable to find the supports they need. This is a multifaceted issue, but a key component is finding appropriate housing. 

While there is no one path to overcoming substance use disorders, we know that studies show that involuntary treatment has a 97 per cent relapse rate. Harm reduction is a critical component of an evidence-based solution to the toxic drug crisis. We need compassionate, evidence-based care and leadership. We must address the root causes of the mental health and toxic drug crisis in this province – harm reduction, voluntary treatment, robust preventative mental health supports and a properly funded plan to not just reduce poverty but eliminate it. 

Further reading: 

How do British Columbia’s three main parties compare on these election issues? (CBC News)

Go straight to the source — here are links to the party platforms:

• Conservative Party of BC (party platform)
• BC Green Party (party platform)
• BC New Democratic Party (party platform)
• BC United (campaign currently suspended)

How do I vote?

Voting day is Saturday, Oct. 19, with advance polls Oct. 10 through 16. Visit The Wren’s voting guide for more information on where to go and what to bring.