Prince George awaits details on involuntary care

He says there are still questions about how many beds the facility will have, how it will be staffed, what it will cost to run, and when it will be built and opened.

“Northern communities have been crying for help for a very long time,” Clare said. “A Prince George facility would be an important focal point and a means of getting things fixed.”

He says hospitals and emergency rooms in the region are struggling to keep up because of addiction and mental health issues.

“Right now, you have emergency departments being overwhelmed,” Clare said. “This would be an essential aspect of alleviating those problems.”

Prince George city councillor Kyle Sampson says city hall has been asking the province for months to share a detailed plan with the public.

Sampson says he spoke with Premier David Eby this week and was told there should be an announcement in about five weeks.

“By the end of June, we will have that full scope, budget plan and timeline for this project to come to fruition,” Sampson said.

Sampson says involuntary care would help people with severe addiction and mental illness who are not able to make safe decisions for themselves.

“This is a compassionate tool to make sure that people aren’t floundering and dying in our streets,” he said.

The provincial government still has not confirmed the final site, budget, or construction timeline for the Prince George facility.

by Dave Branco

Prince George awaits details on involuntary care

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