Provincial drug policy will remain officially unchallenged by the City of Nanaimo, after councillors pushed back on a motion made by Coun. Ian Thorpe, to send a letter asking for review. (Pikist)

By Alex Rawnsley

overdose prevention

‘Harm reduction interventions are important:’ no letter coming from Nanaimo on B.C. drug policy

Dec 2, 2025 | 1:24 PM

NANAIMO — An at-times pointed debate on provincial mental health and addictions policies, as well as challenges in the city as a result, will result in little more than a meeting minute.

A request from Coun. Ian Thorpe to send a letter from the City to the provincial government to “reexamine its philosophy regarding the ongoing drug addiction crisis and resulting mental health and street disorder issues” was soundly defeated on Monday, Dec. 1.

The crux of Thorpe’s push came from his desire to see a different approach, after years of the province “continuing to accept drug addiction as the norm and enabling”.

“Put money and effort into priorities of education and treatment facilities, more detox, dry recovery spaces, speed up compassionate, compulsory care for those that can’t look after themselves,” Thorpe said.

The motion Thorpe presented Monday (the full text of which is included at the bottom of this article) was different from his original request earlier this year to see the City petition Island Health to close an overdose prevention site (OPS) next to City Hall.

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Thorpe said his original request, which he withdrew at a previous meeting, was misunderstood and his intent unclear.

“We certainly, as a local government, can’t solve the opioid crisis, we know that we’re frustrated. We can’t solve the social disorder that goes along with it, but I think at least we can urge the provincial government to reexamine its approach and to take into account the harmful, long term effects that the current policy is having on those with addictions.”

He said consumption sites do have short term benefits in saving people’s lives, but do not address long-term addiction treatment.

Several councillors pointed out it is not the job of an OPS to provide a wide slate of long-term care options.

“The motion asserts overdose prevention sites are failing to provide effective long-term solutions for those with addictions or for neighbourhoods, but the overdose prevention sites were never designed to be long term addiction treatment solutions and their purpose is simple and urgent — to prevent death,” Coun. Ben Geselbracht countered with.

Coun. Hilary Eastmure added harm reduction is having a tangible impact in community.

“I don’t need studies to tell me that these harm reduction interventions are important. I can look around and see people who would not be here with us today, if these services didn’t exist, and that’s all the proof that I need.”

Thorpe’s request to send a letter to the province was defeated 5-3, with Mayor Leonard Krog, and Coun. Janice Perrino joining Thorpe in support.

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong was not in attendance for the vote.

The views of the majority were articulated by Sarah Lovegrove, vice president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association.

She blasted Thorpe’s motion, suggesting it was “driven by NIMBY-ism and colonial privilege” and would “undermine science, threaten public health and jeopardize the health and safety of our entire community.”

Lovegrove addressed Council prior to discussion on the letter, urging them to vote it down.

“Every time politicians like you engage in politicized misinformation and stigmatizing language, not only do you contribute to the worsening of collective ignorance and cumulative death you force those left behind to grieve in shame and isolation.”

Data shows the OPS is having an impact in community.

Since opening in 2017, then on Wesley St., over 160,000 visits have been recorded to the facility, with a considerable number of lives saved from overdose and drug toxicity.

Toxic drug-related fatalities are also down in 2024 and 2025 in Nanaimo, and B.C. as a whole, from records set in 2023.

An expansion of the OPS site is presently under construction, with a Wellness Centre addition expected to open to clients by late spring.

Coun. Thorpe’s motion read as follows: “That Council send a letter to the provincial government asking it to reexamine its philosophy regarding the ongoing drug addiction crisis and resulting mental health and street disorder issues – stating that the current policy of decriminalization and enabling drug use at consumption sites is failing to provide effective long term solutions for either those with addictions, or for neighbourhoods impacted by the problem.”

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