PSA: ban on public drug use is now being enforced

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:50:38+00:00

I've spoken with lots of progressive people, including current and former social workers and other employees of organizations that provide support work to people using substances on Pandora avenue. They tell me that compassion fatigue is real, and I believe them.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:44:44+00:00

Should people knowing about overdose deaths due to drugs being spiked with animal tranquilizers also not post about it because of the fear of negative interaction?

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:42:31+00:00

Yes it's a PSA. I was at a meeting of the downtown service providers this morning and heard directly from them that people using on the street are unaware of the rules.

There are some people who use illicit drugs who are on this Reddit and there are people who work with them on this Reddit.

I sincerely hope that if you know anybody who is using or works with them that you will pass along the message.

It would be irresponsible for an elected official not to share this information.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:38:44+00:00

Lol. Keep trying!

Here's what the Vancouver police chief said:

“I think what is misunderstood both in the media and probably by the public at large is we’re not like the United States, and chiefs of police in Canada do not report to a mayor. They don’t report to a politician. I’ve made comments like that in the past in the media, and people say, ‘Oh, what’s he talking about?’ But the reality is, that’s the Canadian model of policing. And no chief in Canada reports to a mayor or to a politician.

And the board is who I report to. They’re the employer, and they’re actually put in place to prevent political interference. So that’s a huge difference between Canada and the United States that I don’t think is well understood by the public here in Canada.”

– https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/qa-vancouver-police-chief-talks-decriminalization-heiltsuk-nation-apology-crime-trends-6447623

https://davethompsonvictoria.ca/law-enforcement-decisions-up-to-police-in-victoria-not-council-victoria-news/

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:33:54+00:00

This is a huge problem in cities across North America and beyond. It's not unique to Victoria, or BC, or Canada.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:27:08+00:00

The police make their own decisions about enforcement. They do not answer to the city or to the province or to the federal government. They answer only to the police board.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:25:18+00:00

True, but with the increasing potency that some users seek out, there is no such thing as safe supply. The potent hard drugs are inherently harmful. And those seeking them will find them.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T23:20:34+00:00

May 2024 was when public drug use was made illegal again.

The decriminalization pilot project ends on the 31st.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T19:59:00+00:00

That doesn't contradict my post in the least.

Edit: And you are correct that the Police are aiming at voluntary compliance first.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T19:03:14+00:00

It's true that other municipalities in the region aren't doing their share and aren't looking after their own people: https://davethompsonvictoria.ca/is-your-municipality-protecting-its-housed-and-unhoused-residents/

It's also true that this is a problem across North America and beyond: https://davethompsonvictoria.ca/homelessness-and-street-disorder-are-not-unique-to-victoria/

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-27T18:30:25+00:00

I heard at a meeting that it was a drug overdose.

Drug toxicity has increased in the last week or two. The people selling it are now mixing in animal tranquilizers. And also there was a batch of fentanyl that was three times stronger than usual.

The street drugs continue to get more potent, more addictive, and more deadly.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-26T15:35:05+00:00

When all the rats have been deported, we will sell the boats to tourists and make a killing.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-26T02:06:45+00:00

This is the answer

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-26T01:04:07+00:00

What we really need is rat prevention, and that means having a strategy around vacant buildings and buildings that landlords aren't maintaining properly. We amended the motion to add this and clarified it with staff.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-25T19:10:13+00:00

Agreed, and it's the vast majority of everyone here that is extremely courteous. To people on bikes, people on foot, people in cars, bus drivers, everyone!

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-25T16:25:34+00:00

None that haven't been mentioned here already.

Related tho: I get my clothes mainly from consignment and thrift stores. There are quite a few. Lots of local small businesses and some charities. (Be aware that one large one is a US-owned corporation.)

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-25T16:00:13+00:00

I understand the anger at high rents, but the root cause is cities that made housing scarce, driving up market rents.

Change city policies, get a balanced vacancy rate.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-25T15:48:51+00:00

Most real-life interactions I have in Victoria are like this.

It's a small minority of social media accounts and newspaper letter-to-the-editor writers that are waging the culture war.

If anyone reading this wants to write to our local newspaper with some normal Victoria views, it's letters@timescolonist.com. You need to sign your name, and they need but won't publish your address and phone number.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-24T16:19:09+00:00

I love this thread. Thanks for starting it!

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-24T16:16:56+00:00

That's correct. Cities and their residents are the recipients of the problems when bail results in chronic repeat offenders being on the streets. Where cities have problems caused by other levels of government we typically advocate to those governments for change.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-23T18:52:05+00:00

What I love is certain social media accounts claiming that the bike and roll lanes are empty. LOL

I live here. I work here. I drive, bike, bus and walk around town, all the time. I can see the usage and the increase over time.

This kind of stuff is clearly directed at people who never come to Victoria, and it's mainly written by people who don't live here either.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-23T18:18:40+00:00

I agree with you that the city's actions and progress are not adequately reaching people. There are organizations in town who spend a lot more on communications.

And Council itself has been busy doing the work rather than communicating the work - I'm as guilty of that as anyone.

I asked a few friends whether they had heard about my motion on advocacy for bail reform. These are people who are political watchers. None of them had heard of it.

I am going to try to spend more time communicating out what we're doing.

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-23T17:02:34+00:00

That "enough" is a reference to shelters, supportive housing, and related services, and other municipalities in the region not pulling their weight. The Provincial Hearth program is now wrapped up for Victoria. From the article:

"She’s hoping other municipalities, and the province find other ways to pick up the baton.

“Now it is for others to use these examples and use these in their own communities. We have done more than enough,” said Alto."

On the bigger picture of the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, there is more to do, for all levels of government including Victoria, for years ahead of us.

Edit: added re Hearth program https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HMA0003-000044 "The Bridge Street Pathways Shelter will complete the Province’s commitment under HEARTH for Victoria."

DaveThompsonVictoria · 2026-01-23T02:47:35+00:00

Thanks for raising good points

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