Who let the rats out? And drug decriminalization in northern B.C.

Read to the end for a funny post about robins

February 01, 2023

Yesterday I shared this Facebook post:

And today I have this one for you:

I hope all these rats find their homes! Here’s the latest on the first one:

People keep dying from toxic drugs

Yesterday, B.C. made international headlines as the first jurisdiction to decriminalize small amounts of certain small drugs. This is not the widescale, do-whatever-you-want approach some people are making it out to be and, more to the point for those directly impacted, it doesn’t make those drugs any more safe. And they really aren’t. With the release of the statistics for 2022, the B.C. coroner’s service found one in every one thousand residents of Prince George died from toxic drugs last year, a per capita rate more than double the national average, Arthur Williams of the Citizen reports. And as Bethany Lindsay at CBC heard, many people don’t think the decriminalization of 2.5 grams of certain drugs will help - especially in more rural and remote locations:

Katt Cadieux of Prince George's United Northern Drug Users described the 2.5-gram threshold as "ridiculous." B.C. had asked for a limit of 4.5 grams, which many advocates already believed was too low.

Cadieux said 2.5 grams doesn't meet the daily needs of many people who use drugs, and it also creates additional costs, since it's usually cheaper to buy in bulk.

The limit also doesn't take into account people who live in rural areas, often far from the cities where they buy their drugs.

"People who are rural and remote … they need to pick up a larger quantity so that they can go back home and spread it out," Cadieux said.

But the really big issue in the north, she said, is the fact that the vast majority of drug users don't have access to a regulated, safe supply of drugs. Just a small number of doctors in Prince George will prescribe alternatives to street drugs, according to Cadieux.

"I know 30 people off the top of my head that would love to start safer supply, but can't," she said.

The bus got stuck and truck got stuck and the…

Passengers push a bus stuck in the snow in Prince George, B.C.

B.C. Transit warned service could be delayed and sure enough a group of kids had to help push the 55 bus back on track yesterday. Environment Canada says long periods of snow will continue through today.

I also swear I saw a post about a tow truck getting stuck going after a bus in the East Line community but I can’t find it now but, trust me, it existed.

At a recent school board meeting, a member of the public made anti-LGBTQ statements and claimed teachers were abusing students, and in response was thanked by the board chair for taking the time to share his concerns. This prompted the president of the local teacher’s union to warn the board that by not shutting this sort of rhetoric down, teachers are being put at risk. Read reports on the meetings from Will Peters here and Hannah Petersen here.

Budget stuff

After a marathon Monday session, round two of budget talks kicks off today. At the Citizen, Arthur Williams sets us up with a primer on why Prince George taxpayers might be asked to pay more per capita than those in other communities (hint: It’s because we are so spread out, which is why maybe constantly approving new subdivisions isn’t a great long-term plan). The fun kicks of at 3:30 today!

Quick news:

Here is a funny post about robins:

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