New Westminster (November 1, 2022): A lack of access to provincially-funded mental health treatments is having a negative impact on countless individuals and this is manifesting itself on the streets of New Westminster, says city councillor-elect Daniel Fontaine. That’s why he will be serving notice to bring forward a motion at the November 28th regular council meeting calling upon Premier-designate David Eby and the provincial government to prioritize funding in Budget 2023 for a new, large-scale mental health residential care facility in the Metro Vancouver area.
“We heard loud and clear during the recent civic election that people want us to advocate for more mental health supports as a way of beginning to address our significant homelessness and drug addiction epidemic facing the Royal City and our entire region,” says Fontaine. “That’s why at the first meeting of New Westminster City Council, I’ll be seeking support from my colleagues to request the mayor write a letter to the Premier asking him to prioritize this funding in the upcoming budget which is scheduled to be unveiled February 2023.
“There is no doubt a direct correlation between the lack of access to proper mental supports and increased public disorder and homelessness,” says Fontaine. “We owe it to our most vulnerable people to make sure that they have access to proper mental health services, housing and drug rehabilitation treatment.”
According to the City of New Westminster, the most recent data available on individuals suffering from concurrent disorders dates back to 2017.
“Out of the homeless people in New Westminster in 2017 who answered the questions about mental health and substance use:
· 28.6% said that they had a mental illness;
· 36.7% said that they had problematic substance use; and,
· 16.8% noted having concurrent disorders (mental illness and problematic substance use).”
“Not long ago, the Government of BC was able to secure up to $1 billion to build a new Royal BC Museum, a plan they’ve since abandoned. I’m hoping New West Council will agree with me there are better ways to invest those funds. If this happens, it will have a significant improvement on the quality of life for people living with mental illness and help to improve public order.”