January 14, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. – Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky has released a statement on British Columbia’s decision to end the decriminalization pilot project.
“Today, the Minister of Health announced they would not be renewing the decriminalization pilot project in the province. In lieu of that, the Minister announced an addictions phone line. While any added support is welcome, equating decriminalization and a phone line in tackling a public health crisis is deeply irresponsible.”
“Drug policy must mature in this province, not regress. While five people die every day from the toxic drug crisis in B.C., the NDP government is backing away from evidence-informed policy supported by many, including its former chief coroner, Lisa LaPointe, and touted by the NDP’s former Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in 2021.”
“If destigmatization was the government’s only measure of success, then the pilot failed—not because of the policy itself, but because the government failed to do the necessary public education. The Minister says the right things about wanting people to get help, but her actions will do the opposite. People who are worried about being arrested won’t reach out for help. This knee-jerk reaction is designed to appease the Opposition Conservatives, rather than engage in a thoughtful course correction. We cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater here.”
“In 2022, an all-party Health Committee—which included the current interim BC Conservative leader, Trevor Halford—made 37 recommendations, such as rapid response teams, mental health and addictions specialists, and genuine wraparound support. This is the direction this province needs to go. You can’t say decriminalization failed if you never actually tried to make it work. It’s like the government installing one solar panel and claiming clean energy can’t power our province.”
“The BC NDP’s pattern of treating implementation as an afterthought is undermining otherwise significant policy initiatives. Decriminalization—like DRIPA, for that matter—has suffered not because of flawed intent, but because of weak follow-through, leaving Conservatives space to attack these policies and stoke fear without evidence. This government would rather blame decriminalization—or the courts, in DRIPA’s case— than acknowledge its own failure.”
“There are always going to be challenges—and the BC Greens understand that there is a glaring need in our communities to solve the public health emergency and public safety issues. This policy choice won’t change drug purchasing or consumption habits. Enforcement should focus on distributors and organized supply. This public health emergency is political, when really, it needs to be people-centred.”
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Media Contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary BC Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca