Correspondence: Letter from District of Saanich regarding Mental Health Calls for Service
Saanich Council resolution advocating for increased provincial funding for police to handle mental health calls and the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team (IMCRT).
July 28, 2023
The Honourable David Eby, MLA Premier of British Columbia Office of the Premier PO Box 9041 Stn. Prov. Govt. Victoria BC V8W 9E1
The Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, MLA Minister of Mental Health and Addictions PO Box 9672 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9P6
The Honourable Katrine Conroy, MLA Minister of Finance PO Box 9417 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9V1
The Honourable Mike Farnworth, MLA Minister of Public Safety & Solicitor General PO Box 9290 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9J7
Dear Honourable Premier Eby, Honourable Minister Whiteside, Honourable Minister Conroy, Honourable Minister Farnworth:
RE: Saanich Police Department Mental Health Calls For Service
On July 24th, 2023, Saanich Council expressed support for the following motion and resolution:
“That: WHEREAS the issue of mental health and treatment and its impacts on our community safety and well-being continues to be a growing area of concern, and
WHEREAS the cost pressures of providing these services are being downloaded onto local governments who do not operate, manage, nor fund these important health services, and
WHEREAS police have become the front-line workers who need to respond and provide service when there is a lack of available resources, and
WHEREAS the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team (IMCRT) is a successful collaboration between Child, Youth and Family Mental Health Services, Adult Mental Health and Additional Services and Greater Victoria Police Forces to address mental health crises in the region in a way that does not place the responsibility for response solely on local police:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Saanich write the Minister of Public Safety and the Solicitor General, as well as the Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, local MLAs, other southern island municipalities and the Capital Regional District advocating for an increase of support for Saanich Police to better deal with the increase of mental health calls for service, including providing additional funding to increase the capacity of the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team to operate in the CRD, and to ask the province to recognize the burden that a lack of provincial health services is having on Saanich Police, its members and the entire District of Saanich.”
We appreciate your continued support. We thank you for your consideration of Council’s request.
Sincerely,
Dean Murdock Mayor
Document Images
(2)
