Renewed calls to reopen Riverview Hospital after disturbing attacks in Vancouver
The seemingly unprovoked stranger attacks in the heart of downtown Vancouver Wednesday have prompted calls for more action on public safety and mental health, including from Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West.
“How many British Columbian families have to go through this hell, this pain?” implored West Thursday.
He said the senseless crimes highlight the need to reopen Riverview Hospital, the Coquitlam mental health facility that once housed thousands, but was shut down in 2012.
“How many more times does this have to happen before the government recognizes the historic stupidity of the decision to close Riverview?” West said. “We need people like this to be off the streets and in an institution.”
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog agrees, and reiterated his calls for involuntary care – putting folks at risk to themselves or others in a facility for treatment, whether they consent or not.
“Violent random attacks will continue until we accept as a society that there are people on our streets who should be in secure, involuntary care,” said Krog Thursday.
Public safety – linked to decriminalization, mental health and bail reform – has simmered as a political issue.
All three provincial party leaders have weighed in on the topic in light of this week's attacks.
“If we can't put them away then we're going to have to start looking at the Mental Health Act,” said B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad Thursday, in support of involuntary care.
“Preventative, proactive access to mental health care, that’s why we proposed having psychologists covered under MSP,” said B.C. Green leader Sonia Furstenau on Thursday, talking about the importance of sweeping access to such care for all British Columbians.
On Wednesday, Premier David Eby said the province would dig into what happened in the attacks and any underlying causes – promising that changes to mental health and public safety were coming. “You're going to see announcements from us about more assertive care for people who are struggling in this way,” said Eby.
While public safety is not as prominent an election issue as health care or housing, Mario Canseco with Research Co. said Wednesday’s attacks may elevate the issue.
“It’s the kind of thing that can make people nervous, especially because of the area where this happened,” said Canseco.
Eby said there will be an NDP announcement next week regarding mental health and public safety, as these alarming crimes generate growing calls for change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Polls close for closely watched byelections in Montreal and Winnipeg
The polls have closed and votes are being counted in two crucial federal byelections that are being closely watched by political parties.
GoFundMe cancels fundraiser for Ontario woman charged with spraying neighbour with a water gun
A Simcoe, Ont., woman charged with assault with a weapon after accidentally spraying her neighbour with a water gun says GoFundMe has now pulled the plug on her online fundraiser.
Freeland says she is 'not going anywhere' after Conservatives call her 'phantom finance minister'
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland declared she is 'not going anywhere' when pushed by the Conservatives on Monday about her future as finance minister.
Suspect in apparent assassination attempt on Trump was near golf course for 12 hours
The man suspected in an apparent assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump camped outside a golf course with food and a rifle for nearly 12 hours.
Body recovered from B.C. lake after unclothed man leads investigators to crash site
Mounties are investigating a fatal crash north of Whistler, B.C., after an unclothed man who was found along the side of the road led police to a pickup truck submerged in a lake with one occupant still inside.
'Never seen anything like this': Humpback whale catches unsuspecting seal off Vancouver Island
A Vancouver Island nature photographer says he has never seen anything like what his camera captured on a recent whale-watching excursion off Victoria.
'Not that simple': Trump drags Canadian river into California's water problems
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promised "more water than you ever saw" to Californians, partly by tapping resources from a Canadian river.
Mortgage loan rules are changing in Canada
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced changes to mortgage rules she says are aimed at helping more Canadians to purchase their first home.
First teen sentenced in Kenneth Lee case gets 15 months probation
The first teenager to be sentenced in the death of a Toronto homeless man will not face further time in custody, and instead participate in a community-based program.