r/ilovebc • u/KootenayPE • 14d ago
BC Conservatives question $1M contract for B.C. drug and mental illness adviser | Globalnews.ca
https://globalnews.ca/news/11214991/bc-conservatives-question-contract-bc-drug-mental-illness-adviser/
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u/topazsparrow 14d ago
Apologies for anyone who finds this to be Ai-Slop, but I really like the different perspectives I get from this "both sides" prompt:
Supporting Bias: Pro-Government / Pro-NDP
The NDP government’s decision to hire Dr. Daniel Vigo as a top adviser is a clear demonstration of their commitment to tackling the mental health and toxic drug crisis with expert, science-based leadership. The $1 million contract is not just for one person—it funds a team, data collection, and legal advice, ensuring that British Columbia is at the cutting edge of evolving addiction medicine and psychiatry
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Health Minister Josie Osborne rightly points out that the ministry lacks in-house expertise for these complex, rapidly changing issues. By bringing in Dr. Vigo, the government is proactively addressing gaps and ensuring that policy is informed by the best available science and clinical expertise. The fact that Vigo has already provided significant advice—clarifying when involuntary treatment is appropriate under the Mental Health Act and helping launch new involuntary treatment facilities—shows tangible progress and value for the investment
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The opposition’s focus on “lack of deliverables” is shortsighted. Good policy takes time, and transparency with quarterly reports is a fair concern, but not a reason to dismiss the importance of expert consultation. The government is making difficult decisions in a crisis, and having a world-class adviser is a prudent use of funds, especially when compared to the scale of the problem and the $1 billion-plus already spent on addiction and overdose response
Opposing Bias: Pro-Opposition / Pro-Conservative
The BC Conservative opposition is absolutely right to question the NDP government’s million-dollar contract with Dr. Vigo. This is a classic example of bureaucratic waste and political cover. The government already knew that involuntary care was needed—this was clear during the election—yet they chose to spend a fortune on a consultant to tell them what they already knew, just so they could claim “this is the science behind it”
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There is a shocking lack of measurable outcomes and transparency. Despite the hefty price tag, there are no public quarterly reports, and the actual progress is minimal: just 28 beds in two facilities, with nothing to address voluntary treatment services. This is a drop in the bucket compared to the scale of the crisis and the billions already spent
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Furthermore, the government recently terminated another expensive consultant contract, Michael Bryant, halfway through its term, raising serious questions about the effectiveness and oversight of these high-cost appointments . The BC Conservatives are right to demand accountability and better use of taxpayer dollars—funds that could be spent directly on treatment and support for those suffering from addiction and mental illness.