That question—"What if we had acted sooner?"

 Looking at all the boarded-up windows and murals that appeared during and after COVID, I can't help wondering: what if we had focused just as much energy on housing, mental health supports, addiction treatment, and poverty prevention years earlier?

The province is now investing millions to deal with repeat property offenders. Yet many of these individuals are also struggling with housing instability, mental health challenges, and substance use.

Businesses deserve protection. Communities deserve safety.

But if we only focus on the consequences and not the causes, are we really solving the problem?

The fentanyl crisis was declared a public health emergency in B.C. back in 2016. Ten years later, many communities are still struggling with the same issues.

What do you think would have made the biggest difference: more enforcement, more prevention, or a better balance of both?

Are we spending enough on prevention, or are we mostly paying for the consequences?

Reflective Questions

1. What do you believe is the main cause of increasing street disorder in many B.C. communities?

2. Could earlier investments in affordable housing and mental health services have prevented some of today's challenges? Why or why not?

3. How should governments balance public safety with compassion for people experiencing addiction, homelessness, or mental illness?

4. Do you think enforcement alone can reduce property crime? Explain your answer.

5. What impact do repeated thefts and vandalism have on small business owners and their employees?

6. Why do some people become trapped in cycles of poverty, addiction, and criminal activity?

7. What role should communities play in supporting vulnerable individuals before they reach a crisis point?

8. How might the fentanyl crisis have changed if more treatment and recovery services had been available ten years ago?

9. What lessons should governments learn from the social challenges that became more visible during COVID-19?

10. If you were responsible for spending $16 million to address street disorder, how would you allocate the funds?

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