Letter to the Editor

In my 32-year policing career, I often worked on cases involving deaths that resulted from criminal intent or negligence.

If there was an upside to doing so, it was that these files demanded skill, effort and tact – and your work could yield justice for victims, relief for communities and some comfort for survivors.

Of course, every victory was bittersweet: you could never bring a victim back.

One benefit of serving as minister of public safety since fall 2015 has been my opportunity to advance changes that may prevent victimization and save lives. I’m supported by a team of thousands – particularly ministry staff and first responders – whose dedication, expertise and passion for furthering public safety are really inspiring.

Over the last year, the joint response to the fentanyl public-health emergency has been without equal, in terms of its life-saving potential. The efforts across the health-care system to increase fentanyl awareness and access to naloxone are well-documented.

But I’ve also been impressed by the efforts of police officers throughout the province to host public forums and to provide information to first responders on safe handling of fentanyl and how to administer naloxone. It’s also worth recognizing the speed with which BC Corrections not only made naloxone readily available in correctional centres, but also began offering take-home naloxone kits and related training to vulnerable inmates upon their release.

Our Guns and Gangs Strategy is another life-saving effort. With a $23-million boost this year, we’ve strengthened our focus on educating young people at risk, and the new End Gang Life Gang Exit Pilot will provide meaningful job opportunities and other supports to adults who are serious about leaving gang life for good.

I support continued investment in the integrated police teams that are putting gang members in jail and getting guns and drugs off our streets. But I also see each young life lost as tragic. After a rough childhood, I was very fortunate to have a mentor who saw potential in me and steered me away from peers who were going down a criminal path.

I’m optimistic that our gang intervention and exit supports have never been stronger and more capable of helping to save young lives, by engaging them, their families and their friends in making them safer.

Road crashes are another major, preventable cause of deaths in B.C. – about 580 in the last two years. With shorter days and the holidays upon us, keep in mind the tough penalties in place for alcohol-affected driving and excessive speeding.

Of course, distracted and inattentive driving and drug-affected driving are now more prominent, growing threats. If the escalating penalties we introduced in June for distracted driving don’t bring results, I will consider even tougher measures – and as Ottawa continues to develop its cannabis legalization approach, we are exploring ways to enhance deterrence and enforcement to keep drug-affected drivers off our roads.

Saving lives and preventing serious injuries are top priorities for my ministry and the thousands of peace officers serving our communities. But we need your help. Public safety is something we all contribute to and have a responsibility for. If you see something, say something and do your part to keep our roads and communities safe.

Preventable tragedies scar everyone involved – but the key thing is,  they’re preventable.

Mike Morris,

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

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