Article content
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s auditor general is expected to release two independent audits on government programs aimed at curbing the death toll from the toxic drug crisis.
Michael Pickup’s office has conducted reports on the government’s overdose prevention and supervised consumption services and the first phase of the prescribed safer-supply implementation.
Article content
The safer-supply program has generated criticism since its implementation, including from federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who both claimed that drugs from the program were being diverted to the rest of Canada.
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said last week that there’s no evidence of widespread diversion of the safe-supply drugs.
B.C. public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a report in December that there was a lack of evidence to determine if the problem was pervasive, although there were concerns from clinicians that the drugs were being diverted.
There are just under 50 overdose prevention sites across the province and the B.C. Coroners Service says there has been one death in the province at a site this year.
Recommended from Editorial
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Share this article in your social network
