Kamloops mayor, premier talk drug use in public spaces

KAMLOOPS – The homeless situation and drug use on the Kamloops streets is a hot-button topic across the city and at City Hall.

Premier David Eby discussed Kamloops council’s proposed bylaw that would ban drug use in parks and public places with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson over the weekend, when Eby came to town.

“You can go right now and probably go right in front of city hall and the picnic tables there and there’s probably someone there drinking beer or doing drugs or whatever, right?” Hamer-Jackson told CFJC News Monday (April 24).

Councillor Katie Neustaeter believes a bylaw banning public drug use would be in line with the public consumption of alcohol.

Hamer-Jackson worries about how it will be enforced if the bylaw is allowed.

“It’s even harder now that you’re allowed to have 2.5 grams, right? So it’s even harder now,” Hamer-Jackson said. “You can’t have open alcohol and stuff like that. I think we really need to focus on enforcing these sort of existing laws that we have.”

But in order for it to become law, Interior Health would need to be consulted and approval given by the Ministry of Health.

When asked if the provincial government would allow the bylaw, Premier Eby said it’s not a simple solution, referring to the recent decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs.

“Making sure that that initiative is balanced with the need for safe public spaces for families, for kids is a really important priority, certainly for our government and for local governments,” said Eby. “We are going to continue that work. This is an incredibly challenging subject to address as government.”

Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton opposed the bylaw, saying it is dangerous for people to be using street supplies alone.

Hamer-Jackson said he is working with Fenton to find a solution.

“You’ve gotta have places for people to do drugs, right?” Hamer-Jackson said. “I picked up the phone and called her [Fenton], so that’s where it’s at right now and I’ve got some ideas, and I think they are going to work.”