Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, have released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service’s report on illicit drug toxicity deaths for December 2021:

The BC Coroners Service has rescheduled a public inquest into the death of Craig Andrew Ford, which will now begin on March 14, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.

B.C. local governments and modern Treaty Nations can apply for grants to support crucial local services that respond to the impacts of homelessness worsened by the pandemic.

Further pandemic supports are coming for B.C. students and schools, with 300,000 rapid antigen test kits to be delivered in phases.

People throughout British Columbia will continue to benefit from access to low- and no-cost counselling services with the extension of government funding to local community counselling agencies.

The Province is distributing up to 250,000 rapid antigen tests to government-funded child care providers throughout British Columbia for use by child care professionals with COVID-19 symptoms.

The Province and Union of BC Municipalities will work together to review the local government finance system in B.C.  to ensure that municipal governments and regional districts remain resilient in the face of economic changes.