Kamloops council calls on province to include Interior in move to house involuntary care centres in prisons

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council has passed a motion calling on the provincial government to consider including the province’s Interior as it expands involuntary care centres.

The province is moving toward expanding opportunities to house and treat those with severe mental health conditions, even against their consent.

The Kamloops motion, put forward by Councillors Bill Sarai and Dale Bass, builds on Premier David Eby’s comment that such centres may be located in provincial jails — of which Kamloops has one.

The most vocal opponent of the plan was Councillor Nancy Bepple, who argued Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre (KRCC) would not be an appropriate spot.

“Health care should be (provided) in correctional facilities,” said Bepple. “We would not put a dialysis unit in KRCC and expect people to go there.”

Sarai argued many regional jails have wings sitting empty, offering an opportunity to provide care without building new facilities.

“It’s not putting people in a prison — it’s putting individuals in a wing of a prison that can adequately serve them the health care they need,” said Sarai. “It gives the province a mandate that these institutions are already open. The buildings are already there. They just have to staff it up and we can help these people who are actually laying on our streets. They deserve more than what we are providing them.”

Passing 8-1, the motion will now move to Victoria for the Eby government’s consideration.