File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Why the NDP government isn’t keen on expanding the Car 40 program

Nov 4, 2022 | 11:36 AM

FOR YEARS, KAMLOOPS COUNCIL and our local RCMP detachment have been begging for the expansion of the Car 40 program.

It pairs an RCMP member with an Interior Health mental health nurse, forming a team that is best equipped to respond to mental health and substance use calls in which public safety may be a concern.

The program has a history of success in Kamloops — so much so that council and the detachment have set aside funding and resources to start up a second team.

The sticking point has always come with IH who, despite repeated requests, has failed to approve a second nurse for the program.

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IH has justified its resistance by saying Car 40 isn’t well-utilized in the community, an eyebrow-raising contention that does not appear to be supported by the facts.

Former mayor Ken Christian told us the two-person unit responded to more than 800 calls in 2021 alone.

And if it truly was under-utilized, why would the RCMP be clamouring to launch a second team? It doesn’t make sense.

An exchange in the B.C. Legislature this week may provide a window into the disconnect.

In light of the murder of Cst. Shaelyn Yang last month, the opposition asked Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson why the government had failed to support a Car 40-style program in Burnaby.

The LePard-Butler report noted Burnaby RCMP’s request for such a team was turned down by Fraser Health.

Malcolmson said she never personally said no to Burnaby — a hair that does not need splitting.

She also pointed to peer-assisted care teams as a solution to high acuity mental health calls in the community.

That may be fine and good, but the police-mental health nurse team model is proven to work.

As much as some patients may not respond well to police presence, there are many calls in which the expertise of a police officer can be very beneficial.

Malcolmson putting all her eggs in one basket and turning her back on the Car 40 model is just another example of a growing disconnect between this provincial government and the reality in B.C. communities.

If the community wants an expansion of Car 40, then the province should not stand in the way.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.