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By Caden Fanshaw

BC GOV

PACT team part of ideas offered by Public Safety Minister in Prince George visit

Feb 3, 2023 | 4:55 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – BC’s Minister of Public Safety visited BC’s Northern Capital this week as part of his first series of Community Safety Roundtables.

“it’s an issue in many parts of the province, just as it is right across the country,” said Mike Farnworth, BC Minister of Public Safety. “The solutions are sometimes the same, but also need to reflect local conditions and local issues…a one-size approach doesn’t fit all.”

Public safety in Prince George has its fair share of problems, ranging from a troubling report calling for over 30 more officers for the RCMP, extremely high call volumes, and some of the worst per capita numbers when it comes to the overdose crisis.

Part of the ideas shared with local leaders include a Peer Assisted Crisis Team. The concept has already been rolled out in Victoria and New Westminster which sees civilian-led teams address mental health incidents before calling police.

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The province spent over $1m rolling teams out in 2022 with more dollars and communities expected in the near future.

The Canadian Mental Health Association is one of the groups calling for more crisis teams across the country. Similar approaches have been taken in Oregon, New Zealand, and Sweden.

Mayor Simon Yu said he welcomes the discussions and the positive movement on the complex issues facing PG.