Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug-toxicity deaths in January 2023:

Preliminary reporting released by the BC Coroners Service shows that the toxic, unregulated drug supply claimed the lives of at least 211 British Columbians in January, with the total number of deaths surpassing 200 for the eighth time in the past 16 months.

Government and the B.C.-First Nations Water Table announced an unprecedented $100-million investment in healthy watersheds and the launch of engagement on a new co-developed watershed security strategy intentions paper to help ensure safe, clean water is available to communities throughout B.C. for generations. 

More than 350 delegates are coming together for the first time since the BC First Nations Justice Strategy was signed in 2020, to learn about progress being made to address the overincarceration of Indigenous Peoples. 

For the Growing Communities Fund, 85% of the total funds are allocated to municipalities and 15% go to regional districts. The allocation generally follows the population split between incorporated (urban/suburban) and unincorporated (rural) areas of the province and provides a slight boost to address the increased costs of servicing rural growth areas as they are constrained in their population base to raise servicing costs.

Drivers are advised that Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) will remain closed until at least Saturday afternoon between Hope and Merritt due to extreme weather conditions.

The Province is taking another important step to support the recovery of endangered spotted owls while promoting biodiversity and accelerating the protection of old-growth forests.