Premier David Eby did the right thing admitting and apologizing for not addressing the use of drugs in public areas on Day One of the decriminalization program. Who would've though to at the time? Don't forget the last attempt was put on hold by the Courts and thanks to the public outcry the issue was addressed quickly with new federal support so it doesn't drag on for years.
But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that overall, the way it played out was a good thing as it emboldened these drug addled sufferers of a Health Problem to come right out in your face and show you how many and how badly they're affected. Your friends, coworkers and families are being affected by drug use, it is way worse than you ever thought, and perhaps now you can see it. No hiding in self imposed shame by telling people your kid, you Mom, etc. died of Covid or some other BS. That you've "lost contact" when you know they're wandering the street in the Big Smoke. It's time to get serious.
And let's address the obstinate hypocrisy of the "common person" populism, so adopted by the federal and BC Conservatives and BC United that we must return to treating addicts as criminals. That didn't work for the last hundred years, the proof is in front of your eyes, camped in that doorway as this whole debacle has shown.
Locking users in jail doesn't cure them. Never has.
They don't have any money to pay fines.
You can't say safe supply and safe sites are a failure because the people who won't use them are dying in record numbers.
You can't force people into rehab. That only works if they want it, and using it as a dodge from jail isn't going to make them willing and committed to the program.
The police are not stupid, they know a waste of their time. So if thwy catch one using drugs in a park they're going to dump their drugs same as pouring out a bottle of booze and send them on their way. Only if they won't move on will they cart them off to jails and Court.
So like I say, take the win. But without supporting a medically based multi-pillared method, you've just swept the problem back into the alley.