In a striking declaration that puts her at odds with her own government's recent policy shifts, British Columbia's Human Rights Commissioner has stated that stigmatizing illicit drug use is a colonialist practice and a violation of human rights.
A Clash With Changing Provincial Policy
Commissioner Kasari Govender's position comes just as the B.C. NDP government acknowledges that its progressive drug policies might have exacerbated the province's overdose crisis. The provincial government recently walked back its "safer supply" program and Premier David Eby conceded that decriminalizing hard drugs was "not the right policy."
Govender's 22-page position statement argues the overdose crisis, which has killed more than 16,000 people in B.C. since 2016, stems from "colonial approaches that prioritize individualism over community, wealth over health and power over empathy." The document further contends that punitive drug policies have proven "ineffective and harmful for decades."
Redefining The Crisis And Proposed Solutions
The human rights commissioner's office takes issue with even calling it an "overdose" crisis, suggesting this terminology implies drug use is inherently unsafe. Instead, the commissioner attributes the primary cause to "illicit drug manufacturers and dealers adding unknown toxic substances."
As a solution, the statement advocates for B.C. to intensify policies that allow drug use "without stigma," including expanded decriminalization, more low-barrier shelters, and enhanced "safer supply" programs—the government initiative that provides free recreational opioids to users.
Policy Reversals Amid Ongoing Tragedy
This stance emerges against a backdrop of policy recalibration. In February, B.C. modified its safer supply program after reports surfaced of recipients reselling government-provided opioids. The program now requires consumption under clinical supervision rather than allowing take-home doses.
According to the B.C. Coroners Service, the province continues to experience approximately five overdose deaths per day, underscoring the persistent severity of the crisis despite various intervention attempts.
The commissioner's position establishes a clear philosophical divide within B.C.'s approach to drug policy, advocating for reduced stigma even as the provincial government retreats from some of its most progressive harm reduction measures.
