<![CDATA[BC's strategy was doomed to fail because, like nearly every government program in BC and Canada, there is a deep reluctance to increase spending and taxation to create actual capacity and capability in government.]]>BC's strategy was doomed to fail because, like nearly every government program in BC and Canada, there is a deep reluctance to increase spending and taxation to create actual capacity and capability in government.

The BC Government thought they could just decriminalize a few drugs and maybe put in some ‘targeted' funding here and there that would eventually shift to the private or charity sector.

It was never going to work. This was not a failure of the Portugal method in BC, it was an unwillingness to actually implement everything Portugal did to have success.

"Portugal’s drug strategy paired decriminalization with a massive, coordinated investment in treatment, housing, and social support, whereas B.C.’s decriminalization came without enough detox beds, long-term treatment, supportive housing, mental health services or follow-up care, leaving major gaps in its response. “Portugal had politicians and thought leaders who recognized the issue and that the response wasn’t just to decriminalize, but also to provide increased support,” said Pauly.”

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UVic researchers discuss why B.C. couldn’t replicate Portugal’s drug strategy - Port Alberni Valley News

Experts point to fundamental differences in context, toxic drug supply, and government reluctance

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Port Alberni Valley News (albernivalleynews.com)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/3860eb1f-969c-4556-8ed7-b1be86951c1c/bc-s-strategy-was-doomed-to-fail-because-like-nearly-every-government-program-in-bc-and-canada-there-is-a-deep-reluctance-to-increase-spending-and-taxation-to-create-actual-capacity-and-capability-in-government.RSS for NodeFri, 17 Apr 2026 05:16:35 GMTFri, 10 Apr 2026 15:55:08 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to BC's strategy was doomed to fail because, like nearly every government program in BC and Canada, there is a deep reluctance to increase spending and taxation to create actual capacity and capability in government. on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:09:13 GMT]]>@GhostOnTheHalfShell 100%

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.chrisalemany.ca/users/chris/statuses/116381276797426028https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.chrisalemany.ca/users/chris/statuses/116381276797426028Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:09:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to BC's strategy was doomed to fail because, like nearly every government program in BC and Canada, there is a deep reluctance to increase spending and taxation to create actual capacity and capability in government. on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:06:51 GMT]]>@GhostOnTheHalfShell @chris
Instead in Vancouver, we’ve got the most expensive housing in North America

And, the most highly paid police force in North America

(Who at $70/hr have no ability to resolve the street drug issue)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/AccordionBruce/statuses/116381267489386815https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/AccordionBruce/statuses/116381267489386815Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:06:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to BC's strategy was doomed to fail because, like nearly every government program in BC and Canada, there is a deep reluctance to increase spending and taxation to create actual capacity and capability in government. on Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:59:08 GMT]]>@chris

What’s crazy about this as I’ve seen reporting based in Canada that discussed how housing itself is a factor in drug use.

Getting off the street and being somewhere safe, saves people from the kind of stress they would resort to drugs to numb themselves from.

Housing is a cornerstone of mental health. It’s cheaper to put people in housing than to criminalize homelessness and suffered, the tremendous human cost of people understanding their left to rot and die

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.ai/users/GhostOnTheHalfShell/statuses/116381237175770682https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://masto.ai/users/GhostOnTheHalfShell/statuses/116381237175770682Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:59:08 GMT