Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, has released the following statement about the death of a British Columbia police officer:

For the 13th consecutive month, more than 190 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic, unregulated drug supply, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service.

The BC Coroners Service will hold an inquest into the death of Heather Louise Cote, beginning on Sept. 18, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific time) at the Kelowna Law Courts (1355 Water St.).

The Province is securing safety and providing certainty for people in Surrey and throughout British Columbia by directing the City of Surrey to move forward with the Surrey Police Service.

Data released by the BC Coroners Service continues to reflect the significant risks associated with the illicit drug market, with more than 1,200 deaths attributed to toxic drugs in the first six months of this year.

As confirmed by his parents, the BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, related to an existing medical condition aggravated by wildfire smoke.

A coroner’s inquest into the death of Waylon Jesse Edey will begin on Aug. 28, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at the Nelson Law Courts, 320 Ward St.

The Province has approved a one-time three-month extension of the existing arrangement between BC Corrections and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to hold immigration detainees in B.C. provincial custody.

The BC Coroners Service will hold a coroner’s inquest into the death of Samantha Nicole Patrick, beginning on July 24, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at the Burnaby Coroners Court (20th floor, 4720 Kingsway, Metrotower II, Metrotown).

Though the risk of death posed by the unregulated drug supply remains extremely high, the number of deaths in British Columbia due to drug toxicity decreased from near-record levels in April to 176 lives lost in the month of May.