The Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) has unanimously supported Penticton City Council’s resolution requesting the Province support an integrated Car Program with appropriate and sustainable funding. Car Programs pair a mental-health practitioner with an RCMP officer as they respond to calls involving mental-health issues.
“There is a need across the Province for new ways to support the Police services in their task of maintaining the health and safety of all residents.” said Councillor Julius Bloomfield who spoke to the SILGA membership on behalf of Council at the annual conference held this week in Salmon Arm. “Initiatives like the Car Program build partnerships in our communities and provide opportunities for health care professionals to be at the forefront when helping the people at risk access the services they need.”
Car Programs have been in place since 1978. In Vancouver, the programs have shown to reduce the need for patrol response and unnecessary hospital admissions, while connecting people in crisis to the appropriate services in the community. The Car Programs are not intended to cure all, but provide an additional resource to support the health and safety of citizens in our communities.
A number of communities with established Car Programs have requested expansion of their programs or the introduction of a new program and are met with inconsistent responses from local health authorities. The resolution from Penticton City Council underscores the need for such programs to be implemented and funded provincially not as ‘one-off’ local programs.
“Our society as a whole needs new and creative solutions to deal with the addiction and mental health crisis,” said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki. “I’m very proud to see Penticton City Council take a leadership role on this initiative.”
The 2022 SILGA convention wraps up today in Salmon Arm. The resolution will now be considered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities at their meeting in September for a recommendation to the Province.