The case of an 18-year-old Nelson girl has made it to the floor of the BC Legislature.
Skeena MLA Claire Rattée said the girl’s father, who is a recovering drug addict, approached her, pleading for help, saying she has fallen through the cracks of the province’s drug rehabilitation process for the last four years, describing one near fatal overdose.
“She had to be revived by Narcan three times and is lucky to be alive” Rattée told the legislature.
The Conservative critic for Mental Health and Additions challenged the government to intervene.
“Her father has pleaded for help from Child and Family Services, to the Ministry of Health, from the local M-L-A, the member for Kootenay-Central, but his pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” Rattée stated.
“Does this young woman have to die for this government to finally intervene with compassionate care?” she asked during Question Period.
Health Minister Josie Osborne expressed sympathy for the girl and her father.
“Our hearts go out to the family and people connected to an individual like this,” she stated.
“That’s why this government is taking every step it can to connect people with the care that they need,” Osborne told other MLA’s, adding that there are more supports in schools and safe spaces for youth to go.
“To be able to connect with physical and mental health supports, continuing to build the housing and wrap around supports for families in need.”
Rattée said to continue on the same course is unacceptable.
“She has a paralyzed leg, a brain growth and untreated neurological damage,” Rattée responded.
“She’s been begging for help since she was 14 years old, there were moments of hope, times she wanted treatment, but the system failed her every time,” Rattée added and stated that the girl’s situation is getting worse.
“She sleeps in a tent in a drug camp, she has been repeatedly sexually assaulted over the last four years, if she doesn’t qualify for intervention then who does?” Rattée asked, urging the government to bring in passionate care legislation.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said he couldn’t comment on this specific case, but did speak about encampments and housing.
“Encampments are not safe,” said the minister who said the province has been ramping up housing for people with special needs in Nelson.
“We’ve got a new 47-unit build that just opened up there at the Lakeside Place redevelopment, another, 620 Nelson Ave Nelson, another one at 535 West Houston St Nelson,” added Kahlon.
The minister said he couldn’t comment on the girl being turned away from an emergency weather shelter, stating they are under the direction of local governments, but did promise the government would follow up to find out why she wasn’t admitted to the facility.
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