BC United Leader Kevin Flacon has promised to build a treatment centre providing up to 100 complex care beds in Kelowna if his party is elected in October.
91裸聊视频淪o we can take those folks with untreated mental health and addictions off the streets91裸聊视频o make sure they get the compassionate care and attention they need today,91裸聊视频� Falcon said at a news conference across from Kelowna General Hospital on Monday (July 29).
He added this includes the ability to involuntarily remove individuals from the streets who are unable to make decisions in their own best interests.
That would require legislative changes to the Mental Health Act, Falcon added.
The centre would provide stays of up to two years.
91裸聊视频淪o they can properly recover91裸聊视频o that when we reintroduce them back onto the streets we do so in a manner that they are actually healed,91裸聊视频� Falcon explained.
Today91裸聊视频檚 announcement is the Okanagan portion of BC United91裸聊视频檚 plan, announced two years ago, to build 500 beds across the province.
Falcon added his party would also end 91裸聊视频渢he reckless decriminalization policy of this NDP government91裸聊视频� by providing free treatment instead of free drugs.
Dr. Michael Humer, BC United candidate for the Kelowna-Centre riding, saw many patients with addictions during his 28 years as a thoracic surgeon.
91裸聊视频淗ow they wanted help, how they wanted guidance and how they wanted it delivered compassionately,91裸聊视频� he said.
According to BC United documents the initial operating and capital costs to deliver a province-wide complex care plan would be $1.520 billion over three years.
91裸聊视频淏ut I want people to understand the savings that will be realized if we can get a lot of these folks off of the streets and into proper care,91裸聊视频� Flacon said.
In April this year, the NDP announced 240 new complex care units across B.C. including 22 in a building on Pacific Avenue in Kelowna.
The provincial election is scheduled for on or before October, 19.
A media release from the BC Government Caucus stated that when Falcon was Liberal Health Minister he made $360 million in cuts to health authorities, closing treatment beds and clinics across the province.
91裸聊视频淲e all agree more treatment services are needed - but Falcon91裸聊视频檚 cuts to addictions care are part of what led to this crisis, and they would make things worse again,91裸聊视频� Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Jennfier Whiteside, said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淲e are taking action to save lives and connect people to care91裸聊视频hat91裸聊视频檚 the work that this government is doing now, and will continue until we end this crisis.91裸聊视频�
*Editor's note: This story has been updated to add comments from the BC Government Caucus.
