In the latest of a string of healthcare-related election promises, the NDP said that if elected it will create a "Car 67" mental health crisis response program for 91原创.
The three 91原创-area NDP candidates made the pledge to create a Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) team on Tuesday, Oct. 15. A similar program in Surrey was dubbed Car 67 when it was implemented.
The cars are staffed with both local uniformed police officers working with mental health professionals, such as psychiatric nurses, who can do mobile assessments and crisis intervention.
鈥淲e鈥檝e pushed for services like Car 67, which will provide the support our community needs to address these crises with the care and understanding they deserve. I'm thrilled to see this commitment," said Fraser Holland, chair of the 91原创 Homeless Action Table.
鈥淲hen people are in crisis and don鈥檛 know where to turn, they deserve to be met both urgently and compassionately,鈥� said Megan Dykeman, the 91原创-Walnut Grove candidate. 鈥淢ICR teams provide the mental health-focused emergency response our community has been asking for.鈥�
The NDP announcement also came with the endorsement of two 91原创 Township councillors, including Barb Martens, who was formerly the B.C. United candidate set to run against Dykeman. Martens chose not to run as an independent after United leader Kevin Falcon shut down the party's entire campaign and threw his support to John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives.
"As a retired police officer, I understand the vital importance of services like Car 67 in addressing mental health crises in our community,鈥� said Martens, who was a Vancouver Police Department officer. 鈥淏y partnering police with health professionals, we can offer a more comprehensive and effective response.鈥�
Former firefighter Coun. Tim Baillie also endorsed the plan, saying he'd seen firsthand how critical services like Car 67 were for people facing mental health crises.
鈥淚 am thrilled to vote for the BC NDP to see this investment come to our fast-growing community," Baillie said.
Surrey, Abbotsford, Burnaby, and Chilliwack are among the Lower Mainland communities that already have an MICR unit.
鈥淭his emergency response approach saves lives,鈥� said John Aldag, BC NDP candidate in 91原创-Abbotsford. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen the success of these response teams in neighbouring communities, and we鈥檙e thrilled to be able to bring the program to 91原创.鈥�
Meanwhile, 91原创-Willowbrook candidate Andrew Mercier accused B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad of planning to cut health care.
鈥淒avid Eby and the BC NDP will keep the doors open to the public health care people need," Mercier said.
The MICR project is one of a series of campaign promises the NDP has made for 91原创 in recent days. The party has also promised to upgrade operating rooms at 91原创 Memorial Hospital and, in the longer term, to build an entirely new hospital tower on the site. Not all of the campaign promises have come with costing or timelines.
The NDP campaign and local candidates have also touted previous health expansions, such as the addition of an MRI and the expanded ER at LMH, as well as a planned 300-bed long term care facility that was announced just before the election writ dropped.
