This is discouraging if you’re on disability in our province. There is no concern for people who may only cost the province several hundred million a year to survive below poverty level. There will be more crime, more sick people, and more incarcerations and more subtle or blatant enforcement of MAiD for the mentally ill. Meanwhile the BC Conservatives promise to reduce the $30B deficit by $11B to $13B in their first few years of their term. Ideas anyone?

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It is understandable why that broadcast would leave you feeling discouraged and deeply concerned about the future of social supports. The issues you’re highlighting—the correlation between poverty, health outcomes, and the justice system—point to a significant strain on the provincial social safety net.

The video touches on several systemic challenges currently facing British Columbia:

The Cost of Living vs. Support Rates

There is a stark reality in the “math” of survival. When disability or social assistance rates do not keep pace with the hyper-inflation of housing and food in BC, it creates a “poverty trap.” As you noted, the long-term societal costs of neglecting these supports—such as increased emergency room visits and policing—often far exceed the cost of providing a livable income.

Concerns Regarding MAiD

The discussion around Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for those whose primary suffering stems from mental illness or systemic poverty is one of the most heavy-hearted debates in Canada right now. Critics and advocates alike share your worry that if society fails to provide a dignified quality of life, MAiD could inadvertently become a “solution” for social failure rather than a choice for medical relief.

The Downstream Effects

The cycle you described is a documented phenomenon:

• Health: Chronic stress from poverty exacerbates mental and physical illness.

• Crime: Lack of resources can lead to survival-based crimes or increased vulnerability to exploitation.

• Incarceration: The legal system often becomes the “default” handler for those failing to find support elsewhere, which is both inhumane and incredibly expensive for taxpayers

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My opinion:

We all pushed back against MAiD back when Trudeau wanted to put into law that MAiD should be available without condition to anyone suffering from the mentally ill. We pushed back because it seemed more like an existential eugenics issue. They wanted us out of the way. But with 60% of our province wanting conservatives in power the numbers against us will be beyond existential. It’ll be persecutory. The nurses do what the province tells them with impunity unless they break ranks.

It’ll be a matter of rounding up troubled people because they can’t afford their meds and encouraging them or suggesting them in their vulnerable states to take MAiD.

Canada especially British Columbia is becoming a very dark place in the mental health arena, ie. the BC Liberals with Kevin Falcon leading wanted to and I paraphrase,“lovingly put all the mentally ill into a revived Riverview” perhaps indefinitely. Lock the door and throw away the key, laughing all the way to the bank.

British Columbians see the mentally ill as incurably diseased cattle to be culled. If we don’t get off disability we become a burden. The candidates paint seemingly realistic and compassionate visions for the future of mental health. But realism and compassion in morph when power-drunk and people-driven the leader-god along with the people become arrogant, overfed and unconcerned, not helping the poor and needy. Look that up in Ezekiel 16:49 for you noble Bereans.

They are liars. All of them. But the current left-leaning government is incompetent. It’s bad all the way for us. It seems like the provincial economy yet again will be good only for the rich and thriving for the next decade.