File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Bepple shows political courage with her stand on drugs in parks

Jan 16, 2024 | 5:55 AM

COUN. NANCY BEPPLE doesn’t get as much attention as some of the other Kamloops City councillors but she’s not afraid to go against the flow on occasion.

Her middle name should be “Point of Order” for the number of times she interrupts Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson when he tries to speak at council meetings, and she’s solidly in the Gang of Eight, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t think for herself.

I wrote on the weekend about her notice of motion on the war in Gaza but there’s another issue on which she’s departed from the mainstream.

At the most recent council meeting, she patiently waited for Coun. Katie Neustaeter to fulminate on the B.C Supreme Court decision that at least temporarily shelves provincial legislation on public consumption of illicit drugs.

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Then, under councillor reports, she said she sides with the court in refusing to ban public consumption. Her position is that such a move would push drug users into consuming illicit drugs in hiding, which puts them at heightened risk.

It’s not the first time she’s said it, but this was a very clear confirmation in a very public venue. Those who take exception to the judge’s decision pay lip service to the need for supervised consumption sites, saying they want tougher restrictions on public consumption while at the same time acknowledging that more supervised sites are needed.

Bepple, on the other hand, says that unless and until supervised sites are widely available, public consumption must be tolerated. I disagree both with her and the Neustaeter side.

Public consumption of illicit drugs should be stopped, with or without inhalation consumption sites, because the public good should be placed above the good of the drug-addicted.

Nevertheless, Bepple deserves some credit for her willingness to take a politically unpopular stand. She may be wrong on this particular issue, but she stands on her principles.

We need more of that.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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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.