B.C. Conservative leader reveals plans to for toxic drug crisis [Video]

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has laid out his solutions for the toxic drug crisis in the province, which include cutting wait times for voluntary treatment, a virtual program to connect people with addiction specialists and building “regional recovery communities” that would allow for 12-month live-in treatment.

He told a news conference Tuesday that his party wants to end the NDP’s decriminalization pilot project and that they would hold overdose prevention sites accountable by making sure they are “meeting the highest standards” and if not, his government would not hesitate to shut them down. 

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Rustad said if a Conservative government were elected on Oct. 19, he would ensure there are “no financial barriers to detox and treatment.”

“This is something that’s critical in B.C. We cannot be holding people back from receiving the treatment they need in British Columbia (due to) financial barriers,” he said. “We want to close that …