Monday, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and several other politicians from around B.C. announced the request to senior levels of government, touting a letter sent to Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for action on 害羞草研究所渢hree critical fronts.害羞草研究所�

The letter, signed by 10 mayors, three First Nations leaders, Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 police chief and others, calls on the governments to bring in 害羞草研究所渕andatory care害羞草研究所� for people with severe mental health and addiction disorders, reform the bail system for repeat offenders and the 害羞草研究所渂olstering害羞草研究所� of policing at Metro Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 ports.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said at a news conference Monday that the 害羞草研究所渂road based coalition害羞草研究所� behind the letter is 害羞草研究所渄emanding immediate action to be taken on public safety and mental health crises gripping Vancouver and other communities.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 afford to let this continue any longer,害羞草研究所� Sim said. 害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 afford to let people fall through the cracks. The number of individuals that are battling severe mental health and addiction issues and pose a risk to themselves and others due to a lack of adequate care has reached a critical point.害羞草研究所�

Sim applauded Eby害羞草研究所檚 announcement Sunday to provide mandatory involuntary care under the Mental Health Act for those with severe addictions who are mentally ill with the creation of 400 mental health beds across the province.

The 害羞草研究所渃urrent system害羞草研究所� has failed British Columbians, he said.

害羞草研究所淲e know this is going to require a ton of effort, years of effort, millions of dollars, and a transformative investment in a new approach to health care,害羞草研究所� Sim said. 害羞草研究所淲e also know that this issue is not isolated to just Vancouver, it is affecting our entire country.害羞草研究所�

Their letter says senior governments also need to bring in 害羞草研究所渕eaningful bail reform害羞草研究所� for repeat offenders, and the federal government must improve policing at Metro Vancouver ports to stop illicit drugs from coming in and stolen vehicles from being exported.

Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer said at the news conference that repeat violent offenders are too often released on bail due to a 害羞草研究所渞evolving door of justice.害羞草研究所�

He said a new approach is needed to deal with mentally ill people who 害羞草研究所減ose a serious and immediate danger to themselves and others,害羞草研究所� especially in light of the deadly stranger attack on Sept. 4, where a mentally ill man is accused of killing one man and severing another man害羞草研究所檚 hand in Vancouver.

Palmer said crime has been trending down in the city, but it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渃old comfort害羞草研究所� to people in light of news of repeat offenders being let out of jail who go on to commit violent acts while in a state of psychosis.

The chief also said Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 ports are often the source of the continued proliferation of illicit drugs and other illegal items into the province.

害羞草研究所淲e know that all of these things impact our sense of safety and well-being and can cause fear in our communities,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淓xisting public policy decisions and approaches by higher levels of government have been inadequate and are not working. They害羞草研究所檙e full of gaps and they have led to significant public safety concerns.害羞草研究所�

Activist Garth Mullins with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users saidMonday that the system of mandatory care that害羞草研究所檚 on the table in the lead up to the provincial election is 害羞草研究所渁 big step backwards.害羞草研究所�

He said the solutions put forward by politicians and police seem intent on 害羞草研究所渓ocking up drug users,害羞草研究所� instead of creating an accessible system of voluntary treatment.

He said the province has tried involuntary care in the past, 害羞草研究所渂ut what we害羞草研究所檝e learned is it doesn害羞草研究所檛 work.害羞草研究所�

Mullins said the prospect of being subject to involuntary treatment could scare people away from asking for voluntary care, which he said is often not an option for those who want it.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know if I害羞草研究所檓 going to be feeling very good going to my methadone doctor if I know that she has the power to lock me up if she doesn害羞草研究所檛 like the progress I害羞草研究所檓 making,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o, we should build a voluntary treatment (system) that opens the door for people before we build a system of involuntary treatment that locks it behind them.害羞草研究所�

Mullins said he fears more people will die and B.C. will gain a 害羞草研究所渃ruel reputation害羞草研究所� if involuntary care becomes the norm.