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Looking back on 2020, Vancouver Sun columnist Daphne Bramham wrote that poverty, homelessness and addiction have been treated as “intractable problems, impossible to solve.” Looking ahead to post-pandemic rebuilding, she speculated “perhaps we’ll learn that they’re not.” In fact, her optimism is supported by a body of evidence demonstrating how to address homelessness and addiction in Canada.
Could now be the time for this evidence to guide action? Not if we follow the recommendations of those who have overseen the making of our current crises. The advice of many in positions of power demonstrates ignorance of the causes of addiction and the conditions that promote positive change. Under their leadership we have been backed into a corner where the civic duty of every British Columbian includes knowing how to administer Narcan. The mayor of Vancouver claims that he’s heard from all the experts. If that’s true then why don’t his actions build on rele